- English translation
When the crane cries out, it is time to sow the seed—trust me on that.
- Literal wording
If the crane calls, cast the grain, and leave the responsibility to me.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying treats the crane’s call as a traditional seasonal cue: hearing it signals that it is time to sow grain, and the speaker confidently stands behind that judgment.
Historically, the seasonal association is also reported in al-Maqrizi’s account of Egypt, which places the cranes’ arrival in the Coptic month of Babah, when grain was sown.
- When it is used
Use it when a familiar, trusted sign indicates that the right time has come to begin a task, especially one shaped by seasonal conditions. It can also reassure a hesitant person that the expected cue is sufficient reason to act.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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