Saga of the Sanpitch Volume 17, 1985 - Sanpete County

SANDHILL CRANES
Sherman H. Ruesch
3431 Enchanted View Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84121
Non-Professional Division
First Place Poetry
-1-
From our rocky outcrop near the crest
of a blueberry hill facing Denali,
we saw storm clouds boiling up the north face
of the mountain, reaching for its peak.
Then came flights of sandhill cranes,
thousands on thousands of great rangy birds
departing the tundra expanses of the North Slope,
and heading for the milder hills and plains
of the Southwest.
In undulating, pulsing formations numerous and varied,
they flew toward the Great One,
calling softly and musically to each other,
secure in instincts of course and direction.
Of a sudden, this time, they hit
the massive turbulence surrounding Denali.
Sense and purpose were lost in aimless flight,
cries becoming shrill and frantic and angry.
Where are the leaders? Where are the leaders?
After a long time one group re-formed,
rose higher and higher in a tight spiral,
finally heading out over the storm
and toward their winter haven. Other groups followed,
and we soon lost sound and sight of that
September migration„
-2-
We move comfortably within known horizons,
in our valleys of content, when winds and waves
are calm and paths are clear„
We move with whatever ebbs and flows
surround us, scarce observing where we are
and if our meandering is progress or aimless circling.
Truly the world--its fads and foibles--
is too much with us. Not thinking
where we go or why, not caring,
we waste our days in idle chit-chat,
ill-prepared for new thoughts,
new vistas, new horizons.
54