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."