Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, January 13, 1920

I walked out tonight in the terrific wind — it blew out of the west sifting new sandy snow over the polished icy surface of the old snow. I am Winter, cold buoyant winter tonight, without a desire, happy only to be alive and have senses.

Finished reading “The Tidings Brought to Mary.” Two men in it sat in the night and mentioned the constellations as telling the progress of night. My life is so hurried. I don’t know when the stars rise – I thought of vast evenings spent in meditation — I saw the earth once again as from a tremendous height; the old primitive sunrise, and the wonder of solemn summer afternoons long drawn out; —

The wind blows a gale outside.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, January 13, 1920

[“The Tidings Brought to Mary” (1912), a play by Paul Claudel]