Leisure

By W.H Davies

W.H. Davies (1871–1940) was a Welsh poet and writer known for his works that often reflect on the themes of nature, life’s simplicity, and the struggles of the poor. Despite a life of hardship, including time spent as a tramp, Davies became a successful poet with works like “The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp.” His poetry is characterized by its simplicity, directness, and deep connection with the natural world.

“Leisure” is a poem by W.H. Davies that reflects on the fast pace of modern life and the lack of time to appreciate nature’s beauty. Written in 1911, the poem’s famous opening line, “What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare,” captures its central theme. Through simple yet poignant language, Davies laments how people are so preoccupied with daily routines that they miss out on the small joys of life. The poem is a call to slow down, be present, and find moments of tranquility in an increasingly busy world.

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 and 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

The poet says that there is no point in existence if we are always so filled with worry and we do not take time to pause for some time and look around ourselves.

There is no point in life if we do not have any time to stand under the tree and simply look at them as long as sheep and cows do.

If, when walking by the woods, we do not have time to watch the squirrels and see where they hide their nuts in the grass.

If we do not take the time to notice how in the middle of the day, the light glittering on the surface of a stream makes the water look like the star-filled night sky.

If we do not have time to look towards the beauty and watch her dance.

If we do not have time to wait for the smile that began in her eyes to reach all the way down to her lips.

Life will be pretty terrible if we are so filled with worry that we do not take our time to stand still and enjoy the beauties of the world before us.

Importance of Leisure

The poet urges the readers to relax, reflect, and simply be present rather than spend time rushing around and worrying about the future and other things. He seems to suggest that life is there to be enjoyed and appreciated. It is meant to be lived rather than spent. It means that sometimes we need to slow down and embrace the journey without worrying about the destination.

A hectic life of anxiety and worries is no life. These things deny people the opportunity to stop and enjoy the natural beauty around them. People who are always in a hurry will never be able to appreciate the beauty of nature, the calm and serene environment under the tree, and the way sunlight glitters on the surface of the stream, making it look like it’s filled with stars. They will also miss the smaller details like the determined industry of a squirrel hoarding nuts for the winter. To the writer, these are the real signs of life. Taking the time to stare at this world and engage with it fully is the whole point.

The poet personifies beauty as a dancing woman whose smile slowly spreads from her eyes to her mouth. But the people are so busy that they turn away too soon and will not see her smile reaching down to her lips. The poet emphasizes that the modern man is so busy that he sees the beauty of the world around him but does not watch for long enough to fully capture that beauty. He only gets a glimpse of that beauty and not the entire landscape. The poet thus encourages the readers to find some time for themselves to appreciate the beauty of nature around them, to enjoy what is always been right there in front of them.