COURTSHIP




























Black-necked
cranes ride
high and fast
on winter winds
above the
icy Himalayan
barrier.

On the plateaux
of Ladakh
proud ceremonies
of dance
occur, brooking no
refusal from the
chosen ones, as,
with mincing steps
and half-spread
wings they
nod and bow
and leap,
no motion
squandered;

necks extended
towards
the sky,
their bugle calls
voiced in
synchronicity
create a wall
of sound
across that
arctic desert.