Meaning of the Cranes

Cranes are referenced quite often throughout the book. Their life cycles and migratory patterns are described in detail. However, one particular instance finally reveals the connection between the cranes and the book.

Powers relates several legeends and myths related by Native Americans and other ancient civilizations concerning cranes. "All the humans revered Crane, the great orator. Where cranes gathered, their speech carried miles. The Aztecs called themselves the Crane People. One of the Anishinaabe clans was named the Cranes - Ajijak or Businassee - the Echo Makers" (181). It is from this story that Powers got the idea for the title of the book.

Many other groups all over the world (the Middle East, Japan, Australia, etc.) also had their own stories and legends concerning cranes. However, despite the fact that they all came from different cultures, there are some similarities in them that Powers takes to make a point in his story.

"Crane calls said exactly what they meant. Now we live in unclear echos. The turtledove, swallow, and the crane keep the time of their coming, says Jerimiah. Only people fail to recall the order of the Lord" (183). This is a common theme in the book about the way in which humans, while we consider ourselves to have the most highly evolved brains and to be the most intelligent creatures on Earth, are "probably... the only creatures who can have memories of things that never happened" (101) and who also forget things just as easily.