The painting Little Crow was inspired by a poem I wrote (with the same title) a couple of weeks before I began the painting. The genus Crow includes the species of various Ravens, and they are among the world's most intelligent animals. They are known for their black luminescence.
My poem Little Crow is embedded within the painting and tells the story of a crow flying over and observing the black heart of a human man. It has a discussion with God and laments the nature of the dark man. The crow acknowledges that its color is being influenced by the blackness of the human, but it pronounces its determination not to succomb to the evil influence. It will do this by using its God-given talents.
Therefore, this painting is simultaneously dark and hopeful in both color and meaning.
Stylistically, the painting is abstract and impressionistic. The crow embodies the impressionistic portion of the painting while the rest is abstract.
Click to view the painting's page and pictures. Continue below to read the poem.
Little Crow, reads as follows (the italicized words are spoken by God):
Little black bird, where have you been?
I’ve been above the treetops, mankind observing
Little black bird, what did you see?
A creature with a black heart that needs awakening
Little black crow, you are a mystery
I’m not a portent of death, but I am not snow white
It was no god that colored me black
But a man projecting his emptiness inside
He’s a man unaware of his dying
He has blinded himself; himself he is justifying
He has no heart; he seeks his own selfish longing
He tried to clip my wings
Little black bird, what else have you seen?
The trees are bleeding, and upon them the birds are feeding
The trees are leaking, and upon them the flowers are feeding
My spirit of vengeance is grounded in amending
No spirit of evil will prolong to squelch the spirit of the good
Little black bird, what are you saying?
I am a beautiful, little bird; my maker is godly
He allows me to see what I have seen
He allows me to fly and to be free
He hears my disquieting thoughts
He knows what I have felt, how I bleed
He will soon rectify; he will soon remedy
I am a little, black bird; a creature gifted
It is for nothing that the net is spread before me
I am a bird; I have wings (December 2010)
My poem Little Crow is embedded within the painting and tells the story of a crow flying over and observing the black heart of a human man. It has a discussion with God and laments the nature of the dark man. The crow acknowledges that its color is being influenced by the blackness of the human, but it pronounces its determination not to succomb to the evil influence. It will do this by using its God-given talents.
Therefore, this painting is simultaneously dark and hopeful in both color and meaning.
Stylistically, the painting is abstract and impressionistic. The crow embodies the impressionistic portion of the painting while the rest is abstract.
Click to view the painting's page and pictures. Continue below to read the poem.
Little Crow, reads as follows (the italicized words are spoken by God):
Little black bird, where have you been?
I’ve been above the treetops, mankind observing
Little black bird, what did you see?
A creature with a black heart that needs awakening
Little black crow, you are a mystery
I’m not a portent of death, but I am not snow white
It was no god that colored me black
But a man projecting his emptiness inside
He’s a man unaware of his dying
He has blinded himself; himself he is justifying
He has no heart; he seeks his own selfish longing
He tried to clip my wings
Little black bird, what else have you seen?
The trees are bleeding, and upon them the birds are feeding
The trees are leaking, and upon them the flowers are feeding
My spirit of vengeance is grounded in amending
No spirit of evil will prolong to squelch the spirit of the good
Little black bird, what are you saying?
I am a beautiful, little bird; my maker is godly
He allows me to see what I have seen
He allows me to fly and to be free
He hears my disquieting thoughts
He knows what I have felt, how I bleed
He will soon rectify; he will soon remedy
I am a little, black bird; a creature gifted
It is for nothing that the net is spread before me
I am a bird; I have wings (December 2010)
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