Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), The Mysterious Bird, 1917; watercolor, pencil and charcoal on paper, 20 ¼ x 17 ¾ inches; Delaware Art Museum, Bequest of John L. Sexton, 1955
A meadow-lark day – As the wet south wind blew the shower across the land, the meadowlarks burst into song. Their silvery whistle came upon all sides. I renewed forgotten feelings.
To Covered Bridge + Dutchman’s Sketching. Birds are on all sides – Bluebirds, robins + songsparrow rejoice in the rain. By noon the sun comes forth – the air is warm; hillsides are almost hot; while shady places have still jagged patches of snow – A dense violet haze – From the flooded marshes a large flock of wild geese flew up at my approach + northward –
Birds were creeping along rail-fences, + underbrush. A wren flew from under my foot. Sparrowawks; Blue-jays – A large hawk. Crows abound at Dutchmans where I found skunk-cabbage in bloom.
The impression of the meadowlarks is gone.
Charles Burchfield, March 27, 1916