Run off-- this seems to be telling someone to go along on their way, don't stay. It says the water gives the "illusion" that everything goes on. "well it don't". So, it's the end of something and the person needs to "run off", or go away now. He (the narrator) is stuck in one place (I set up a still life), living for art alone. But, life continues around them. He's dedicated his life to art, essentially, and the image representing the source of the art is a stream of water. He is a rock in the stream just letting the water wash over him, not wanting to move and participate in other aspects of life. This theme recurs in literature often. Like Orpheus in Greek mythology: the isolated, misunderstood artist (they're poking fun at).
Run off-- this seems to be telling someone to go along on their way, don't stay. It says the water gives the "illusion" that everything goes on. "well it don't". So, it's the end of something and the person needs to "run off", or go away now. He (the narrator) is stuck in one place (I set up a still life), living for art alone. But, life continues around them. He's dedicated his life to art, essentially, and the image representing the source of the art is a stream of water. He is a rock in the stream just letting the water wash over him, not wanting to move and participate in other aspects of life. This theme recurs in literature often. Like Orpheus in Greek mythology: the isolated, misunderstood artist (they're poking fun at).