Please login to post your comments.
Leisure
William Henry Davies
About William Henry Davies
William Henry Davies (1871-1940) was a Welsh poet and writer whose writing is known for its depiction of realism expressing themes such as hardship. urban life. and the natural world. Some of his noted poetry collections include The Soul's Destroyer and Other Poems, Nature Poems and Others, andThe Bird of Paradise and Other Poems.
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.
Available Answers
- 1.
Imagine you are on a one-month holiday with no school assignments to be completed. How will you spend your days? Write five things that you would love to do.
- 2.
Underline the things which, according to the poet, we do not notice or admire in our nature and surroundings.
- the woods
- ship soiling on sea
- sparkling daylight on streams
- dancing feet of Beauty
- leaves blowing in the wind
- 3.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars -- What does the poet mean by 'streams full of stars'?
- Why isn't there any time to see them?
- What do 'streams full of stars' look like?
- 4.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.- Who are 'we'?
- Why does the poet call our lives 'full of care'?
- Why does the life still seem 'poor'?
- 5.
What is meant by 'leisure'? Explain with reference to the poem.
- 6.
If we had the time to stop by, what could we see in the woods?
4 more answer(s) available.