“Origami Cranes”

From July 23^rd to October 23^rd, there will be a magnificent, suspended display of around 3000 Origami Cranes in St Mary’s Church Banbury. This is part of the St Mary’s Festival 200 in collaboration with the Banbury Business & Arts project, ‘Colours of Banbury’ Origami Crane Project 2022, which also coincides with the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The cranes have been made by individuals, businesses, and local organisations, including St Mary’s Church.

 So, it seems very appropriate to showcase some poems about Origami Cranes!

 I found three short quite modern poems about 1000 Origami / Paper Cranes, which are reproduced below.

 This led me to ponder the art, tradition, and symbolism of origami, as well as the place of the crane in some societies, and the significance of 1000 Origami Cranes.

 Origami is the ancient art of paper folding, usually associated with Japanese culture, but which now embraces all paper folding practices, regardless of culture or origin.

 The cranes' beauty and spectacular mating dances have made them highly symbolic birds in many cultures with records dating back to ancient times. Crane mythology is widely spread across Asia and parts of the Mediterranean. 

in Japan, the crane is a national treasure and is considered the bird of happiness and is widely depicted in art, literature, and mythology as a symbol of good luck and longevity because it is said to live for 1,000 years. And according to Japanese tradition, folding 1,000 paper cranes gives a person a chance to make one special wish come true.  

 There is a particular story of a Japanese girl, Sadako Sasaki who was just two when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. She died of leukaemia in 1955, aged 12. But before she died made 1000 origami cranes.

The three poems, which have similar titles, reflect on 1000 paper/origami cranes in different ways.

 The first by a poet identified as “JLB”, focusses on the aspect of making a wish and the legend of the origami crane and the sense of waiting.

 The second by the American- Korean poet, Shinji Moon makes us stop and think about the lives we lead,

 And the third by Jim Yerman, provides a narrative of the Japanese girl, Sadako Sasaki, who died from leukaemia.

A Thousand Origami Cranes (JLB – 2015)

A thousand origami cranes grants the maker one wish.

One wish to be granted on the paper wings folded and tucked with care.

Eternal good luck is granted say others.

A legend born and borne by the wings of a bird.

What would I wish for after making a thousand paper cranes?

I'd wish that each crane flew away,

saw beauty and love as it dipped over mountains,

swooped over fields, and sang at dawn.

After all hanging by string, being made of paper,

just means that the maker and her birds are waiting.

Waiting to be let from their cage.

'A Thousand Paper Cranes' (Shinji Moon 2016)

I would fold 

a thousand paper cranes 

for you,

would fight away all those demons 

that leave scratches over your skin 

just so you know 

that they don’t always leave through 

bloody trails.

I look at you and see all the ways 

a soul can bruise, and I wish 

I could sink my hands into your flesh 

and light lanterns along your spine 

so you know that there’s nothing 

but light 

when I see you.

Listen.

When the wind blows 

all your candles out, when the stars 

turn to plumes of smoke, 

when your mother makes you watch 

as the matches burn out in her eyes,

Let me hold your hand, your skin, 

the stones you’ve swallowed in your sleep.

Let me 

slip your soul out of your skin 

so you can sleep in my palms 

for tonight.

1000 Paper Cranes (Jim Yerman – 2013)

But, after the bomb, radiation rained like it had never rained before. 

And it took 10 years for that black rain’s effects to kill 200,000 more. 

Sadako Sasaki was only two years old when we dropped the bomb that day 

And she was 12 when the black rain’s cancer took her life away. 

While Sadako and many others were losing strength they would never regain 

Strangers sent them the gift of senbazuru- 1000 paper cranes. 

The crane in Japan and other cultures is a symbol of long life 

They were sent to ease the suffering, the sickness and the strife. 

Tradition states folding 1000 origami cranes will make one’s life enchanted

When completed they’re given one wish to the crane and that wish will be granted. 

Sadako, whose 12 year old heart was so innocent and pure

Immediately started folding paper cranes…her one wish would be a cure. 

She reached 1000 origami cranes then made a wish to stay alive 

But alas, her wish was never granted, she died in 1955.

Sadako’s friends and classmates thought Sadako would be thrilled 

If they could find a way to remember every child the atom bombs killed. 

Their excitement was infectious, soon many people would lend a hand

And before they knew it the movement had spread across the land. 

2 ½ years after Sadako’s death with the money her story created 

The Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima was finally dedicated. 

On a giant pedestal sit’s a bronze statue of Sadako, no longer in any pain 

A sweet smile forever crosses her face as she holds a paper crane. 

But the story doesn’t end there because if you listen you will hear 

The silent voices of the 10 tons of cranes the monument receives each year. 


And today as war and enmity continue to show the worst part of mankind


Look closely in their aftermath at the cranes that are left behind. 

You see, I believe a majority of people in this world pray desperately for peace 

Perhaps that’s why the number of cranes continues to increase 

So today I’ve started folding cranes for all children and Sadako’s sake

You see, when I reach 1000, I have a wish to make. 

My wish will be that peace will come from a simple origami crane 

Then Sodako and all the children killed in wars would not have died in vain.

There is a monument to Sadako in Hiroshima Memorial Park.

 The figures that surround the monument are angels, representing that Sadako is in heaven among the other fallen angels who died during the atomic bombing in Hiroshima. The inscription on the monument reads:

 "This is our cry; this is our prayer: for building peace in the world".

 Hopefully similar monuments will not be erected, but it does give cause to think about our world today! But enjoy the poems and all the surrounding traditions.

 Submitted by Roger Verrall – July 24^th 2022

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