Chapter 2 - Leisure

Chapter 2 - Leisure

By W.H. Davies

William Henry Davies (1871- 1940)

William Henry Davies was a Welsh poet and writer. He spent much of his life as a tramp or hobo, in the United Kingdom and the United States, but still became one of the most popular poets of his time. His main themes are observations about life's hardships, his tramping adventures, and the characters he met. The son of an iron moulder, Davies was born at 6 Portland Street in the Pillgwenlly district of Newport, Monmouthshire, a busy port.

​- Name of Author

What is this life full of care

We have no time to stand and stare?

Explanation

The poem is about the state of life in the modern era which is full of competition. Man is worried only about gathering material things. The poet observes that our life is so full of worries and responsibilities that we do not have time to look around and admire the beauty of nature. We are busy following our daily routine and we overlook the wonderful things nature has in store for us.

​- Name of Author

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

​Explanation

Sheep and cows stand for hours grazing under the trees, looking around them. We do not have a single minute to spare to look around us and observe the beauty in the world.

​- Name of Author

No time to see when woods we pass

Where squirrels hid their nuts in grass.

​Explanation

Whenever we pass a little forest, we are deep in our thoughts that we do not notice the amazing things in nature, like squirrels running around, hiding the nuts in the grass.

• Name of Author

No time to turn at Beauty's glance

And watch her feet how they can dance.

​Explanation

The word 'Beauty' can be interpreted in two ways. The poet refers to a beautiful girl who is dancing and says we do not have time to watch dance performances and other beautiful forms of art or pursue our hobbies like dance, music, etc. which could relax our mind.

At the same time, the poet also compares nature to a beautiful lady. The movements in nature are compared to the lady dancing; swaying of the trees in the breeze, sailing clouds in the sky, waves upon the sea, and birds flying in the sky. We do not spend time to see the hand of God in the beauties that he has created and the movements in nature.

• Name of Author

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

​Explanation

When a lady smiles, the smile begins at the eyes and slowly spreads to the lips. We are so engrossed in our problems that we do not have time even to wait till a smile has reached the lips. We have no time to admire the slow and subtle changes in nature like the changing of the seasons, flowers blooming, etc.

​- Name of Author

A poor life this if full of care

We have no time to stand and stare.

​Explanation

The poet emphasizes that we are leading a poor life if we are only spending our time worrying about our problems and not enjoying the beauty of nature.

Multiple Choice

What do you understand by the word ‘care’ in the first line?

• The word care means caring for ones ownself

• The word care means the beauties of nature and enjoying them

• The word care means personal care

Multiple Choice

What does the poet mean by the phrase ‘stand and stare’? Pick out the correct answer from the three alternatives given below:

• Looking at things unblinkingly

• Looking at the beauties of nature and enjoying them.

• Lost in thought looking at nothing

Multiple Choice

What is it that sheep and cows do for which we have no time?

• Sheep and cows have time to play with each other but we do not have any time for thay

• Sheep and cows have the time to graze but we do not have any time for thay

• Sheep and cows have time to stand and stare, but we do not have any time for that.

Multiple Choice

In the seventh line the poet spells the word ‘Beauty’ with a capital letter ‘B’. “No time to turn at Beauty’s glance”. Does it refer to a beautiful girl or to the beauties of nature or to both?

• Beauty could refer to both beauties of nature and a beautiful girl.

• Beauty could refer to only a beautiful girl

• Beauty could refer to only the beautiful nature

Multiple Choice

Read the poem:

9. No time to wait till her mouth can

10. Enrich that smile her eyes began

11. A poor life this if, full of care

12. We have no time to stand and stare

Who is ‘her’ in line no. 9?

• Beauty

• Cow

• Sheep

• River

Multiple Choice

The line “till her mouth can enrich that smile her eyes began” means that

• A rich woman smiles with her eyes

• Eyes and mouth smile together

• Beauty’s smile begins from the eyes and spreads to her lips

Multiple Choice

What according to the poet is a poor life?

• According to the poet, a poor life is so full of worries that we have no time to relax and enjoy the beauties of nature

• According to the poet, a poor life is a life with no income and employment

• According to the poet, a poor life is a life led on the streets

Multiple Choice

Who is ‘we’ in the poem?

• Animals

• Human Beings

• Insects