Flying, by Janet Ruth

Handmade greeting cards by Shigeyo Millenson (USA, b. Japan 1929–2018).

Flying

the cranes are flying
they fly, Shigeyo
in gold and silver flocks
as the sun rises--
gilded rays escape
a scarlet bow
above the mountains--
the crane is flying
she flies, Shigeyo
a single peaceful
origami offering in rose red
wings folded
at sunset when the sky is also red
and the stars are coming out
blue now like rain drops or tears
only later will they glitter
blazing white when the rose has faded
the cranes are flying
they cry, Shigeyo
in those gargling, raucous voices
and I did not know you
but the cranes cry with the dawn
fly to feed in the fields
and return at night
to settle murmuring
roosting in the river
and the river reflects the sky
and we remember

Janet Ruth

Janet Ruth is an emeritus research ornithologist living in New Mexico.  Much of her writing focuses on connections to the natural world.  She has had poems published in Grey Sparrow Journal, Santa Fe Literary Review, previously in The Ekphrastic Review, Manzano Mountain Review, and Unlost: Journal of Found Poetry & Art.  She also has poems in regional anthologies including:  four volumes of Poets Speak Anthology – HERS, WATER, WALLS, and SURVIVAL (2017-2018); Weaving the Terrain: 100-Word Southwestern Poems (2017),Fixed and Free Poetry Anthology (2018), and Missing Persons: reflections on dementia (2019).  In 2018 she published her first book--Feathered Dreams: celebrating birds in poems, stories & images (Mercury HeartLink).  
 https://redstartsandravens.com/janets-writing/  ​