September Sandhills

September’s end descended swiftly on the island of Manitou, as dark clouds and strong winds vanquished yesterday’s sun, bringing gray skies and cold rain. In the fields, sandhill cranes gather, then lift, en masse, silhouetted against a sombre sky, their raucous cries harkening to prehistoric times as they disappear across the horizon following the east wind which will carry them to Michigan and beyond. We lower our heads and pedal on.