It was the same golden hue that bathes the trees at sunset, bringing
serenity.
Made in youthful hands where gold over gold over gold is gently folded.
At first, only a few, and then, ten hundred more are placed.
There, at the base of a statue in Hiroshima Peace Park, in memory of the children,
chains of paper cranes.
All for the children, those who felt the bittersweet blueness and died at its hands.
Rice cakes placed high on altars, provide nourishment for the long journey home.
Lighted lanterns drifting lazily on cold black waters.
The children come with paper cranes, so when the new light dawns, it will never
again bring Blue Ghosts….
the skies.
will fill
And golden cranes of peace
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Lynne's Blog 
Great ending to the poem, Lynn. Thanks for sharing and starting my morning off with a peaceful touch.
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This is just lovely, Lynne. I especially like the line “Made in youthful hands where gold over gold over gold is gently folded.” Hope is apparent in every line. How we need hope every day!
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Beautiful poem. Interesting how you changed the format to read the ending in an upward motion. I can see those cranes reaching the sky.
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Thanks, Rosie. It was a revision, for sure. I thought it worked well for this poem particularly.
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Oh how we all need to see those golden cranes of peace filling the skies. Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece, Lynne.
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This is beautiful — the mood was so calming and hopeful – purposeful. It made me feel that each act one makes can create change and impact others. How did you find this topic? Did you see something or read something? I would love to hear.
Clare
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I read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr, Hiroshima by Lawrence Yep, and Under the Blood-Red Sun by Graham Salisbury as a literature group study when I taught fourth grade. We strung chains of origami cranes and sent 1000 to Hiroshima to place beneath Sadako’s statue on Peace Day in August.
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Your beautiful poem took me on a walk this evening and it was a peaceful one. One where I had the time to slow down and enjoy the beauty of the golden cranes of peace. Thank you! ~Amy
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Amy, that was beautiful! Thank you for your wonderful reply. I love quiet evening walks, especially at the shore just as the sun is setting.
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I will never forget when my 5th grade teacher read the story to our class. I remember feeling so broken and wondering how this could ever have happened. I could just picture those perfectly folded golden cranes. Thanks for sharing this beautiful poem!
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