Like all good myths, the Japanese story of the Crane Wife can be understood in different ways. A poor man marries a crane disguising herself as a woman. She weaves cloth to help support them on the condition that he never watch her work. The exquisite cloth she makes helps them prosper, and in his curiosity, or greed, he steals a look and sees a crane plucking out her own feathers, weaving them into the cloth and maintaining her disguise. She flies away, never to return. What trust is breached for love? What is sacrificed when we restlessly mistrust contentment?

Bird species are in alarming decline across North America. Here are things you can do to help.

The Decembrists, "The Crane Wife 1 & 2,", written by Colin Meloy, 2006.

This post is part of Music 100, a love letter to songs. 100 words on 100 songs in 100 days, running from Groundhog Day to early June, 2025.

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