Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, December 20, 1917

Dec 20, 1917

                   A Dream

A confused unearthly dusk –

A train of various kinds of freight cars going northward in the gloom – I was riding – we were going fast a – line of small factory buildings – suddenly the cars commenced one by one to slide over and come to a stop in the spaces between the buildings – got out + continued my journey; - I was going north on a narrow, dry road dull white light lit up dead grass around me; the road led downhill towards a black valley; a dog and a cub-lion commenced to pursue me, as I turned on them they whimpered + cowered + disappeared in the gloom – My feeling of fear was mingled with confusion at frightening them.  My back turned they appeared again, and I ran.  The lion ran to the side and...was like a piece of tattered windblown paper – when I would turn, they would cower + run away, + I would feel the same remorse – we went on always downhill --------

The mind has a subconscious activity that borders on direct activity – though ostensibly we refuse to think of a certain thing, + apparently we have put it down, at any cessation of direct active thinking, the other returns, completely worked out in all its details, ‘tho at first it might have been but the germ of a thought.

Charles E. Burchfield, December 20, 1917