Inspired by a group of herons resting near the author's home towards the end of a long and difficult winter, this collection of poems employs the crane--the symbol of longevity, immortality, and good fortune in Asian folklore--as its dominant image. Questions such as "How do we make sense of our lives? "and "What is the role of the imagination, art, and place in shaping our vision of the self and teaching us how to be human? "are explored using unabashed lyricism and a wry, philosophical style. "Winter Cranes "demonstrates Chris Banks's ability to be an uncompromising poet, determined to understand his experience of a world constantly changing around him.