23 - Stormy Sea

The weather
became unsettled and stormy

 

Heavy clouds gathered

thunder

lightning,

and torrents of rain

swept over the face of nature

from time to time.

The sea was in frequent commotion;

heavy ground-swells

drove masses of water

hissing and foaming

against the cliffs.

Everything heralded

 the approaching rains.

All nature

sounding forth

the solemn overture

to the grandest

work of the year.

pg 158 - 159

Swiss Family Robinson

by Johann Wyss

Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010

22 - Labyrinth

Specially Prepared

To roam about

in an irregular

labyrinth.

Impossible everything

In all directions

Night came

Without any interruption

Our proceedings

Being accomplished.

Then out poured

disorderly rabble

scrambling

springing

leaping

tumbling

across the grassy space.

Innumerable confused

rapid they swarmed

hither and thither

dashed fearlessly

in all directions

some rushing

some scrambling

where they commenced

forcing an entrance.

pg 152 - 153

Swiss Family Robinson

by Johann Wyss

Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010

21 - The Turkey

The figs

being ripe

immense flocks

of ortolans and pigeons

were attracted thither.

We found

the first detachment

of birds

already busy

with the fruit.

To our joy

we also found

crops

of gourds and pumpkins

in all stages of ripeness

covered the ground.

pg 146 - 147

Swiss Family Robinson

by Johann Wyss

Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010

20 - The Calf

a bull-calf

offering determined resistance

to the fiercest foe.

Fighting bulls

will rush

with dreadful bellowing

to meet the enemy

and should it be

mighty lion

or daring monster,

sacrifice

in defence of the herd.

"Hear what a low

muttering noise he makes!

I shall call him Grumble!"

pg 140 - 141

Swiss Family Robinson

by Johann Wyss

Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010

19 - Autumn Tree

We ascended a

pretty wooded hill.

The view from the summit

was glorious:

luxuriant grass at our feet

stretching down the hill-side,

dotted here and there

with shade trees,

among which gushed down

a sparkling brook,

while below

lay the rich green forest

with the sea beyond.

pg 134 - 135

Swiss Family Robinson

by Johann Wyss

Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010

18 - The Magician

On the smooth face

of the perpendicular rock

I drew in chalk

the proposed entrance.

The boys battered

vigorously at the rock.

Piece by piece it fell and soon

there was an aperture.

We let fly

dozens of

these fiery serpents.

Some flew,

like radiant meteors

lighted up

the mighty circumference

and displayed,

as by a magician's wand,

a sparkling glittering roof

pg 128 - 129

Swiss Family Robinson

by Johann Wyss

Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010

I did not block out the words. This set of facing pages was simply awesome, the prose brought no less than six pictures to my mind, this being the third for this set of pages. I plan to paint at least one, if not two or three other paintings associated with this set of pages, or the pages to come in future copies of this book.

I recently bought another copy of this book, and 10 of the companion books from the series. I really plan to paint every single page in the entire book. Or at the very least a picture based on each page. I probably will not be so zealous with the 10 other titles... partly because none of the other titles were a part of my childhood and formed the person I am today. I read the Swiss Family Robinson dozens of times as a child. As a teen, I sold my book at a garage sale for a dollar. I regretted that sale ever since, and later found a copy of the book through eBay. That copy is hanging around my house somewhere, in one of my many book shelves, and I plan to preserve it as a book to read. But now I have 2 copies of the book, and another on the way.

The other poem from this page, that will go unpainted for now, is:

I was anxious
I feared
suffered
Utterly destroyed
dashed in pieces
irreparably damaged

Though the difficulties
appeared insurmountable
we began
our undertaking.

Hard work
incessant toil
made little impression
we did not despair
and were rewarded
softer and more yielding
our minds relieved
persevering diligently
a thin wall, then,
was all that intervened
between us
and a great cavern

17 - The Bat

We were in a grotto of diamonds
a vast cave of glittering crystal.
The candles reflected

on the walls

a golden light,

bright as the stars

of heaven,

while great pillars

rose from the floor

like mighty trees,

mingling their branches

high above us

and drooping in hundreds

of stalactites, which sparkled

and glittered

with all the colors

of the rainbow.

pg 128 - 129
Painted on Table of Contents and Facing Page

Swiss Family Robinson

by Johann Wyss

Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010