it's late now. perhaps

it was only a long day the colour of honey and blue,

perhaps only a night, like the eyelid

of a grave look that encompassed

the measure of the sea that surrounded us,

and in this territory we found only a kiss,

only ungraspable love that will remain here

wandering among the sea foam and roots.

- Pablo Neruda, The House in the Sand

there is a vitality, a life force, an energy,

a quickening that is translated through you into action.

and because there is only one of you in all time,

this expression is unique.

and if you block it,

it will never exist through any other medium...

the world will not have it.

it is not your business to determine how good it is,

nor how it compares with other expressions.

it is your business to keep it yours

clearly and directly,

to keep the channel open.

- Martha Graham

great artists are people who find the way

to be themselves in their art.

any sort of pretension induces medocrity in art and life alike.

- Margot Fonteyn