Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, February 1, 1931

[In the left margin are notations about date with high and low temperatures.]

Feb 1 –
4
0
Walk out Clinton to Harlem Rd to Mineral Springs Rd to Ind. Church Rd thence home —
A fine brilliant cold morning — the sun shines from a vast watery blue sky — its reflection in a black-green writhing opening in the ice-covered creek —
Never before has the great star we call the sun seemed so much like a star as today — Shining from such a depth of blue, with little mist or atmosphere to obscure it, it cannot be seen as a sphere; but only as a diamond shaped burst of dazzling light — even its color is like starlight — cold and remote —
I walk along in ecstasy –
[Burchfield bracketed the next paragraph with red pencil for emphasis around 1955.]
The brilliant star of February has risen in the Southeast, and sends its blinding cold light over the vast white earth opening up emerald and cobalt caverns in the northwest sky — a black crow cries hoarsely from some dusky wood.

Charles E. Burchfield, February 1, 1931