Margaret Renkl’s The Comfort of Crows is a weekly devotional that brings attention to the marvels of the natural world. Her latest book, The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, is a deeply moving collection of observations that encourages readers to appreciate the intricate beauty and challenges of life.
Faith in the Future
One morning, as I prepared to plant white oak trees in a local park, I found myself turning to Renkl’s poignant words: “Planting a tree is a gesture of faith in the future.” This passage, like so many others in her book, offers solace and perspective on our interactions with the environment. Renkl’s essays are imbued with thoughtful reflections on what we leave behind in this world, interweaving themes of loss, legacy, and love.
Personal Reflections
Renkl’s essays, illustrated with 52 original collages by her brother, Billy Renkl, delve into the intricacies of life from her suburban half-acre in Nashville. In one essay, she uses a tree’s knothole as a metaphor for life’s transformations. The imagery is evocative: from the knothole’s decay to the greenery sprouting, she narrates how radiant life emerges from dark places. Each essay brings a bit of the outside world into focus, making readers ponder the delicacies of existence.
Change and Continuity
Renkl addresses omnipresent themes such as aging, pandemic disruptions, and climate change with a measured, empathetic tone. Her longer essays, supplemented by “praise songs” or short poetic observations, may be read sequentially or as weekly meditative pieces. Together, they form a literary devotional that encourages introspection and connection with nature. Her insights root us within our shared world, reminding us to cherish the living beings around us. As she eloquently puts it, “With any luck, some autumn in a year I may not live to see, there will be many acorns.”
Renkl’s The Comfort of Crows not only dives into personal change and tragedy but also provides hope and continuity through nature’s enduring cycles. It’s a reminder to live each day with mindful appreciation and to see the interconnected beauty of our lives and surroundings.
