1. LEISURE
By William Henry 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.
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The poet, William Davies, tells us about the hectic (busy) routines of our
daily life. He says that we have no time to stand and notice the beauty of
nature. In first two lines, poet asks a question about life that looks full of
care (worries & concern)and we have no time to see beauty of nature.
In second stanza, the poet explains his point of view that even we have no
time to stand under the beautiful and green branches of trees. He wants
us to realize how these trees are beautiful, but we spare no moments to
look at their beauty. The poet says that animal like cows and sheepare
better than us because they have time to enjoy the beauty of greentrees.
In third stanza, the poet says that when we pass through tall trees, we do
not have time to stop and look at their beauty. These treesprovide
beautiful scenery where squirrels or other small animals play and hide
their foods in the grass for the winter season. He wants us to realize that
we are always in a hurry and do not really enjoy the beautiful scenery of
nature.
In fourth stanza, William Davies depicts beautiful imagery that at day
time when rays of the sun falls upon the water of streams and rivers, their
reflection looks like stars in the sky at night. However, our busy routines
are hurdles to enjoy such beautifulviews and we miss them.
2. In fifth stanza, the poet personifies beauty as a beautifulyoung girl
dancing with a smiling face. He again shows that busy routines of human
beings deprived them to see the beauty of nature. When beauty is dancing,
we cannot see her feet because of busy life.
In sixth stanza, poet extends his points of view that beauty is scattered all
around us, but we can’t see it. As he personifies it as a beautiful girl; he
says that we can’t see her smiling face. We have no time to stand and stare
at nature that canrefreshus.
In last stanza, the poet takes pity on human being and wonders whatis
this life which is full of care!He says that if we have no time to enjoy
nature; we are living a poor life. As human beings, we should spare some
time to look at naturalbeauty spread all around us to enjoy our life. He
answers his question that it is a poor life if we have no time to enjoy the
naturalbeauty.
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Structure
‘Leisure’ consists of seven couplets. It means there are a total of 14 lines in this poem. The
poet uses a regular rhyme scheme. The rhyme scheme of the poem is AA BB and it goes on
like this. As an example, in the first couplet, “care” and “stare” rhyme together.
Figures of speech
“stand and stare”, “stars and skies” and “beneath the boughs”, the poet uses
alliteration.
Each couplet begins with the phrase “No time”. The poet uses
this repetition for the sake of emphasis.
In the line, “And stare as long as sheep or cows”, “Streams full of stars, like skies
at night”, he uses a simile.
There is a metaphor in “Streams full of stars” and it is compared with the
“skies at night.”
"And watch her feet, how they can dance." he uses Personification .Beautyis
personified.
Rhyme scheme is aa bb cc dd ee ff gg.
