Charles E. Burchfield, Journals December 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 past 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. I 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.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, December 20, 1917