Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, Vol. 28, August 30, 1916

Trains roaring in the black night have suddenly taken on a strange significance.

Yesterday at noon as I looked from my window seeing the vivid sunflowers in the startlingly sunlight; two jagged yellow lines sweeping past marked the course of two butterflies.

While lying on my bed half awake, half asleep I thought of the sort of nature I was now viewing. Unconsciously I went back to the visions I saw two or three years ago and all at once I came to my senses amazed. What was it I had been thinking of?

Again I fell to thinking – was this life I lived for art alone a life of sacrifice of denial / No! All at once I thought of forgotten childish dreams of strange lands & adventures & carefree life and came back to the present with a sudden heart-beating as if terribly frightened.

Charles E. Burchfield, August 30, 1916