Charles E. Burchfield, Journals Undated between April 3 and 25, 1920

A Spring Walk –

After an evening of yard-raking and bonfires, and wild sweep of thundery skies, darkness lured me to town wanderings; down the alley by the dull evilly glaring fire remnant – [unintelligible word] sitting on a fence-post in the darkness; (his movements are like those of a mechanical dolls, unexpected and spasmodic, he has an undefinable charm for me) – On Main street two youths talking eagerly in the obscure shadows of a church; house doors are open, and people sit quietly reading; on all [unintelligible word] are great blank spaces of inky blackness, with sharp violently lighted windows of stores; children playing around a hotel, the harsh bright bareness of restaurants by dark vacant lots; over all is the ever present dominance of toad calls, from evil marshy places – at times lightening.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, undated between April 3 and 25, 1920