Charles E. Burchfield, Journals April 1, 1917

Day in Pinehollow & Bottoms sketching – A dreamy loose rainy day (star doodle) Strange ochre & grey slow moving skies – the many birdsongs on all sides seem like rain drops already patting on the dry leaves.

In Pinehollow the day drowses – how a stray wind stirs a leaf at times in the lowest depths of the ravine

(star doodle) I knew it was noon when the birds’ songs ceased.

I was painting skunk cabbage flowers in the heavy heat haze – the honey bees - the angry buzz when one was caught in the deep purple cave of the flower – it commenced to rain – it brought the dusk down – In the fading light I wandered along the Dutchman’s Hill hearing the bird songs in the rainy (star doodle) dusk – the rain ceased - & the dusk became deeper – all at once I found my first hypatica and rain commenced to patter on the leaves – I knelt down before the flower and thanked God for the miracle of the first Hepatica.

Walking homeward over the luminous dusky fields, with the rain full in my face – the moon shone forth, but the rains increased.  – if the moon shining on rain-drops should cause a rainbow, it would be a wreath of (star doodle) hepaticas.

(star doodle on journal page; on a separate piece of paper glued into journal)

Charles E. Burchfield, April 1, 1917