Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, March 16, 1919

     It had rained all night & all day — I went out over the loose spongy earth — the rain increased in fury — a flock of blackbirds in a meadow were chattering with a melodious cheerfulness — I felt how sacredly wonderful the rain was, how it should open up our spirits & make them light; noise streams were hurrying everywhere, the earth was so full that the water came out of the ground like artesian wells — one was not surprised to hear song sparrows, but the meadowlark’s silvery whistle, sounded as if new things created; and the bluebird’s color a totally new thing —
     The Pinehollow had a sad grandeur about its solitude; the stream roaring in the misty depths of its hollow was felt; a peterbird sang after dusk, the fearful gloom of woods grabbed at the road; a bird call came from the woody hill, like the rapid tapping on a hollow skull — The resounding crash of the waterfall at Teegarden was left behind now.

— Charles E. Burchfield, March 16, 1919