Where along the migratory way These cranes may also stop I can not say. The river's a dozen miles from here, But twice, sometimes more, Each year They drop, A fleet of sails On a sea Of grass, Like manna and the quails Come from some other land To say, "This way! This way!"
Phyllis Tickle (1934-2015) was founding editor of the religion department of Publishers Weekly and author of several books, including the series The Divine Hours. This poem first appeared in her last book, Hungry Spring & Ordinary Song: Collected Poems (Paraclete Press, 2015). Used with permission of Tickle, Inc.
