Poetry surrounds us everywhere, but getting it onto paper is something that unfortunately doesn’t go as readily as looking.

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) Dutch painter

Letter to Theo Van Gogh (18 Mar 1883)
    (Source)

Alt. trans.:

• "Poetry surrounds us everywhere, but to bring it on paper is, alas, not so easy as to look at it."
• "Poetry surrounds us everywhere, but putting it on paper is, alas, not so easy as looking at it."