The Sun tries to say hello, but
bid her farewell, she’s not welcome
here. The darkness soothes
the sound of the feral bird rapidly
flapping its wings, beating against
its bone cage. It’s exhausted and
wounded. But it aches to hurt even more.
Shaking its cage. Left. Right. Up. Down.
Trapped. It’s too much for the bones to
bear. As the Sun shines light on the
imperfections of the world. The Moon’s
wickedness caters to the feral bird’s
craters. This is what it comes down to:
always sleeping my days away. This is what
it comes down to. Trying to keep the
feral bird at bay.

– Triniti Brown

Author’s Note: “Escaping the Feral Bird” represents the internal chaos of anxiety and depression. The “feral bird” is a symbol of the frantic, relentless thoughts that cage you, leaving you exhausted and trapped. The Sun, offering hope, feels unwelcome in this space, while the darkness provides a strange comfort, even though it’s suffocating. The poem explores the cycle of trying to control the chaos, but never fully escaping it. It’s about that sense of being caught between the desire for peace and the weight of your own mind. Through this piece, I wanted to capture the rawness of mental struggle and connect with others who feel similarly.