Dance Of Cranes Poem by Roy Ballard

The great cranes of Japan come out to dance,
to make their pledges with their fluent wings
and all the world can see with just a glance
their love reveal itself in gracious things.
On snowy plumes they come like thistledown,
like petals by the winds of spring despatched;
then they are dancing, crown to crimson crown,
each stately gesture with another matched.
While you and I have no red coronets
or shining wings to magnify our charms
set on the sullen earth we are and yet
I hear your song, I take you in my arms
and all the cranes, who know true love from false,
cut short their dance and turn to see us waltz.