Leisure: William Davies

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare?

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

Summary: In this poem, ‘Leisure’, the poet William Davies is telling us about our hectic life. We have no time to admire the nature around us. Even we cannot spare a few moments to stand under the branches of green trees and enjoy the beautiful and restful shades of the trees. The common animals like sheep and cows are better than us in enjoying life. We cannot look at them grazing in the pastures. When we pass through some forests, we do not have time to stop for some moments to look at the trees-tall and short, and enjoy their natural beauty. The dark green trees provide a soothing effect but we are always sick-hurried and cannot enjoy at least the simple beauty. Also we cannot look at the small animals like squirrels concealing their food-grain in the grass for the winter. During day time, when the rays of the sun fall upon the clear water of the rivers, the water reflects and shines like stars in the sky during night. But busy people do not have time to see this. The natural beauty scattered all around us. Natural beauty is personified as a young beautiful dancing girl having a smiling face. But we have no time to stand at a place and look carefully at nature that can refresh us. As human beings, we should spare some moments and look at nature and natural beauty spread around us and enjoy life.