The White Cranes Poem by Della Hodgson James

O pretty white birds
  How we love you.
Won't you come near us again?
  We had no thought
To disturb you,
  From frightening you
We would refrain.
Your pretty white wings
  We admire them.
Carrying you blithely along
  O won't you come back?
Pretty white birds,
  And sing to us children
Your song.

Your plumage so shining
  And spotless.
Looks as pure as the new driven snow.
  O pretty white birds, why
So fearful?
  We would not harm you
Oh, no!

You float by, or whirl
  O'er the waters.
Then you vanish, up or down stream
  We wait with ill conceiled
Impatience,
  Until our last glimpse of you
Is but a dream.

When we come upon you
  Unsuspected.
You quickly away from us fly
  O pretty white birds,
We would like to know
  Why you are so modest
And shy?