The Grey Crane

Cynthia Zhang

(Written on January 30, 2011)

 

Oh ho!

Startled by a grey shadow shooting out of the bush,

I held my breath to watch over to the lake.

Look, a grey crane!

 

Reaching out on her wings,

The crane was a motionless moving giant against the sky,

Until she slowly and lightly landed on the ice afar.

Only then could I breathe again.

 

“Beautiful! I should have brought my camera.”

Two ladies nearby shrugged to each other.

Their dogs were gazing at the standing crane.

 

All by herself on the vast lake,

With the bright winter afternoon sunshine all over,

The grey crane closed her eyes.

The world she escaped from was still there,

Not a bit of the bustling and hustling lessened,

Including me watching her.

 

I smiled to myself.

I became part of the world to the crane

When all I needed was to escape from the world,

Even if just momentarily.

Work, life, love, family.

Oh, do NOT forget, the exam.

 

A long walk along the lake brought me back

To where I met the crane.

Absorbed in my own thoughts,

I caught a glimpse of a grey shadow next to me.

Not a shadow this time.

I could almost touch the fine glimmering feather,

And the slim yellowish long legs.

Oh! My…

 

Again, she shot out with an elegant slide

Over the sky to land on the thin ice away from me

As if she was making fun of my childish appall

At her unearthly beauty.

 

“Hey, you’re beautiful, my crane!”

I articulated and repeated.

My crane!

You are there with me with your life and beauty!

And you will be with me in my words and heart.