Gratitude of the Crows Mysteriously, they landed on a rusty plow that lay in ruins in the overgrown hayfield. Fog had descended on the field like a soft blanket. The air was still. It is usually a raucous event, when crows congregate. Other than a few clucks, on this day the birds were silent. I saw no carrion nearby. Why had they come here? I pondered. Did they also know the man who had passed away? Standing by the plow, I thought about all the work my dear friend, Jerry, had accomplished. I thought about his devotion to cultivating the fields, where a thousand dreams sprouted with new life. I remember how he loved watching the birds. He marveled at their freedom and beauty. He did not worry about how much they would take from his fields. When the snow covered the ground, he always put out grain. Jerry was a modest man who had found the inspiration and energy to carry a message of hope and compassion to all he encountered – even the crows. My old friend is gone. I came to stand in his field and honor the loving man who had given me and others so much. “Gratitude of the Crows” is a digital painting and composite created by Spadecaller.