Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, May 13, 1921

A warm day in May —

Memories: a little hill rank with new long grass, and dandelion seed-heads all steaming in the boiling sunlight. The smell of “cooking” plants is mingled with the rich odor of manure from some barnyard. The heavy intoxicating scent of hawthorne deadens the senses – the drowsy hum of bees – all the power of Eternity pours down out of the Zenith.

A May Morning – (memory of the Oberlin Trip)

Hot white sunlight falling aslant the Gothic elm-lined streets – The rattle of delivery horse’s hoofs on pavements. Lawnmowers clattering, and the heady smell of fresh-cut grass and dandelions. As noon comes on the clang of a blacksmith’s hammer or sledge on an anvil comes from the black doorway of a small square false-front building.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, May 13, 1921