Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, Vol. 28, August 26, 1916

            This evening at dusk as a storm from the Southwest swept out of the orange sky; as the huge misshapen trees, thinned by the wind waved against the afterglow, as the wind’s course was marked in waving corn & leveled sunflowers — as I saw light windows in the puny houses — As I saw the fearful immensity of the storm, I felt how small how futile my attempts so far have been — A great discouragement came over me –

            I dream visions of immense storms in mountain valleys on seas which war with mountainous shores; of immense boiling rivers curling down mountainsides; of sudden flashes of sunlight at the heights of such storms and wonder if it will ever be my joy to paint such scenes — I must — I will —

            At midnight a strange phenomenon — Streaks of pale light radiating from zenith most of them extending over the north half of the sky – Great nervous waves of light flutter upwards from the north —
Charles E. Burchfield, August 26, 1916