Morris Rosenfeld

The Free Canary

"The Canary," by Morris Rosenfeld

The free canary warbles

In leafy forest dell:

Who feels what rapture thrills her,

And who her joy can tell?

The sweet canary warbles

Where wealth and splendor dwell:

Who knows what sorrow moves her,

And who her pain can tell?

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Like the inner thought-world of the birds in Rosenfeld's poem, this free canary was elusive, opaque. I tried different angles, but he always managed to keep leaves between us.

I'm guessing he is a White-bellied canary (Crithagra dorsostriata). With few dark stripes and bright colors, I'm also guessing he's male.

You can find canaries warbling worldwide, but they are only truly at home in Africa.