Tonight, we’ll read the first half to “The Story of the Herons,” from a collection titled Moonshine and Clover written by Laurence Housman and published in 1922. The second half will air in our next episode.

In addition to his fiction and poetry, Housman was a committed activist, championing both women’s suffrage and the acceptance of gay people in society. His work often blended lyrical language with a touch of moral allegory, reflecting his interest in social progress.

Herons, the birds at the center of tonight’s tale, are found on every continent except Antarctica. They are long-legged, long-necked, long-billed freshwater and coastal birds, and include egrets—distinguished mainly by their characteristic white plumage. While they bear a passing resemblance to storks and cranes, herons are easily recognized in flight by the way they tuck their necks back in an elegant S-curve rather than extending them straight out.