a little birdie told me

when canaries sing ~ leave out the washing you’re already in the shît


By
David Kavanagh
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025


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Date: 2/14/2025 4:48:00 PM
When I first read this, I knew it meant something and I conjured numerous notions in my head. Then, whilst reading other’s comments for enlightenment, I suddenly remembered the little sparrow who didn’t fly south for the winter… and I think I got it. Terry
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Kavanagh  Avatar
David Kavanagh
Date: 2/15/2025 1:30:00 AM
Heya Terry, that’s a great analogy you made about the little sparrow, yes you get it totally, always shit to be paid, when canaries (the human ones sing) lol! Cheers David
Date: 2/8/2025 1:11:00 PM
You didn't get banned, right? Can't stop bird's from doing what they do naturally. Stay out of trouble...there are bigger issues...Using USAID as a canary in the mineshaft, see if it survives or not latest issue! Clever, Cheers!
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Anaya Avatar
I Am Anaya
Date: 2/8/2025 4:23:00 PM
Oh, thank god!
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David Kavanagh
Date: 2/8/2025 3:01:00 PM
No I didn’t get banned, little me never lol! U SAID with a question mark, yes a lot of turmoil going on over there, with far reaching consequences, dangerous times not only for the canaries, thanks for stopping by Anaya, cheers David
Date: 2/8/2025 12:44:00 PM
Haha….Oh so clever David….great play on words! Debx
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David Kavanagh
Date: 2/8/2025 2:54:00 PM
Thanks Deb, I hope you’re keeping well and enjoying summer down under, I actually made myself laugh when this one popped into my head whilst attempting a different poem altogether, cheers David
Date: 2/8/2025 9:32:00 AM
"when canaries sing" as in 'the cat's out of the bag.' So, it chased the bird who pooped on the wash... What a vicious cycle. There are so many paths to explaining a reader's thoughts on your line, none of which might come close to yours, or Dilly's, or mine. That bird shoulda kept it to himself!
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David Kavanagh
Date: 2/8/2025 10:33:00 AM
Heya Lin! a few colloquialisms going on here, and I believe you are right on the money, actually I think we are all singing from the same hymn sheet here, insofar as that canary is concerned, and some have been torn to shreds by (cats) for singing too loud lol! It’s really a play on words with irony thrown in for good measure, thanks so much for popping in with great comment, cheers David
Date: 2/8/2025 8:58:00 AM
Say nothing and keep your secrets to yourself, don't worry about the washing there's always the laundrette lol. Tom
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David Kavanagh
Date: 2/8/2025 9:11:00 AM
Now there’s a wise man Tom, say nothing indeed and our life expectancy will exponentially increase, so a little birdie once told me lol! Cheers David
Date: 2/8/2025 7:22:00 AM
Dear david, i think the birdie might be right, i interpreted this in two ways, one i assume canaries like to drop regrets, so pointless, or either it can be interpreted as it isnt worth it sweating over canaries singing, as we are already in deep trouble, either way; it does seem to give a sarcastic and witty vibe, which was worth reading, only few can write in few words something so deep that readers pause to ponder, well you do that always. Pleasure visiting your page today: sending you light
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David Kavanagh
Date: 2/8/2025 9:09:00 AM
Oh I’m always praising mythological gods Ink, but in a roundabout way so I can extricate myself, if the soup police come knocking on my door! No doubt they’ll catch up with me eventually and ban me from the site lol! such is the life of a rogue poet ;)
Empress Avatar
Ink Empress
Date: 2/8/2025 9:00:00 AM
Haha i did understand that canaries when they sing it is an indication or sign of danger, but i used " regret" instead of s. Word lol because apparently when i praised some mythological God previously, i was told by soup , that i was violating community guidelines lolol. So i tried being vague: but thank you for confirming what your poem means! I can be a bit blur sometimes hah
Kavanagh  Avatar
David Kavanagh
Date: 2/8/2025 8:33:00 AM
This one is deep and shallow Ink! In slang if a person (sings like a Canary) they are usually giving the police information about another, and landing them in deep shît, those birds are also notorious for pooping on (washing) or laundry hanging out on the line to dry, making it too late to take it in, as the deed is already done, so says that little birdie, this one is written using colloquial slang, so not everyone will get it straight away, but I’ll tell you what you did a great job interpreting this piece especially living on the other side of the world, and not familiar with my vernacular, your light is always welcome and appreciated, cheers David
Date: 2/8/2025 6:29:00 AM
ha ha ha love it david - I would have used the word 'sheet' but your creativity with shit is pure genius lol:-) hugs jan xx
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David Kavanagh
Date: 2/8/2025 8:08:00 AM
Heya Jan! trust you to get a whiff off my page today lol! Yeah you totally get this one, we all get (dropped in it) at some point in our life, A clever little birdie gives good advice, just in this case after the deed is done! Thanks so much for flying by today, cheers David
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