The Sand-Hill Crane
The Sand-Hill Crane
Poem
Whenever the days are cool and clear,
The sand-hill crane goes walking
Across the field by the flashing weir*,
Slowly, solemnly stalking.
The little frogs in the tules** hear,
And jump for their lives if he comes near;
The fishes scuttle away in fear
When the sand-hill crane goes walking.
The field folk know if he comes that way,
Slowly, solemnly stalking,
There is danger and death in the least delay,
When the sand-hill crane goes walking.
The chipmunks stop in the midst of play;
The gophers hide in their holes away;
And "Hush, oh, hush!" the field-mice say,
When the sand-hill crane goes walking.
Notes
*A "weir" is "a low dam built across a river to raise the level of water upstream or regulate its flow."
**A "tule" is a tall rush-like water plant.
Written by Mary Austin
