The artist labors while he may, But finds at best too brief the day; And, tho' his works outlast the time And nation that they make sublime, He feels and sees that Nature knows Nothing of time in what she does, But has a leisure infinite Wherein to do her work aright.

Henry Abbey

Categorized in : Artist Nature Work Out

The end we know not; but we wander on, by Henry Abbey

The end we know not; but we wander on,

wilderness ends time

What do we plant when we plant the tree? We plant the ship that will cross the sea, we plant the mast to carry the sails, we plant the planks to withstand the gales--the keel, the keelson, and beam and knee--we plant the ship when we plant the tree.

knees sea tree

And once I knew a meditative rose That never raised its head from bowing down, Yet drew its inspiration from the stars. It bloomed and faded here beside the road, And, being a poet, wrote on empty air With fragrance all the beauty of its soul.

stars inspiration air

Our yesterdays Are like a lonely and a ruined land Wherein a breeze of recollection sighs-- A fading land to which is no return.

lonely land past

Love is the key-note of the universe-- The theme, the melody. by Henry Abbey

Love is the key-note of the universe-- The theme, the melody.

notes keys love

Life is the wave's deep whisper on the shore Of a great sea beyon... by Henry Abbey

Life is the wave's deep whisper on the shore Of a great sea beyond.

wave sea life

Though Duty's face is stern, her path is best: They sweetly sleep... by Henry Abbey

Though Duty's face is stern, her path is best: They sweetly sleep who die upon her breast.

path faces sleep

Behold the grapes and all the fruits that Autumn gives today, As robed in red and gold, she rules, the Empress of Decay!

autumn gold giving

What do we plant when we plant a tree? by Henry Abbey

What do we plant when we plant a tree?

sun tree country

All governments, Books, customs, buildings, railways, ships, and all the stark realities that men have made, Are but imagination's utterances.

men book reality

The noblest works of human art and pride show that their makers w... by Henry Abbey

The noblest works of human art and pride show that their makers were not satisfied.

makers pride art