Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

10.                April 19, 1934 –

     Cleaning yard all afternoon – the sky finally cleared at late afternoon; it grew colder, and the sharp sunlight took on the clear crispness of March.

                   April 20, 1934

     The phenomenon of flowers, blooming on the south side of banks & hills, while snow and ice still remain on the north sides is a wonderful one to me – it is a miniature “ice-age” compressed into a few weeks [sic] time –

     Out of the north from lowering skies falls whirling flakes of snow; falling among the dry leaves, where one hepaticas, snow-drops and crocuses – They come from the far north where there are deep ravines and dark pine recesses, & caves under overhanging slaty ledges, where lurks masses of greenish ice, seemingly centuries old; from them a cool breath proceeds into the cavernous hollows between the steep banks; a passing wind sweeps dry leaves from the top banks in a dizzy whirl, swaying the branches of the pines, these catch a stray glint from the pale March sun. The black shadows of pre-historic bear lurk under ledges, under pines, in the caves, under logs – From the remote sunlit world outside comes