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 Beautys 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.

1. What or who is the poet referring to when he used the word Beauty?
2. Explain in your own words what is meant in the first two lines of the poem.
3. Identify a line that demonstrates interactions with nature.
4. Which phrase is repeated all over the poem?
5. Explain what is indicated by this repetition.
6. What is implied by the word Leisure as used in the poem?
7. Explain what the poet meant by the last two lines.
8. What can the persona see while in the woods?
9. What does the persona means when he says a poor life this if,full of care?
10. How would you want to live your life? Explain in your own words.
11. What does the phrase no time suggest?
12. Name 3 activities of leisure mentioned in the poem.
13. To what does a phrase of poor life refer?
14. Why do you think no time is repeated throughout the poem?
15. Why do you think the word beauty is written as Beauty with a capital B?
16. The movements in nature are beautiful like dancers. based on your own observation, describe
movements of 2 things in nature which are beautiful.
17. The poet describes beauty as smiling. Give 2 instances that you feel the nature is smiling at
everyone.













ANSWERS:

PRACTICE 1

A soldier



(a)The war fought for independence

(b) He has been injured due to his involvement in the war for independence. Now he is old and disabled
and cannot do much to free his country from new challenges. He still cares for the country but unable to
fight as he used to do.



PRACTICE 2

Nature



The poet questions the purpose of a life which is so full of worry that it does not allow us any time to
simply stand still and watch the world go by. We should take the time to recognize the world around us
and see whats going on. One day we might have something or someone, and the next their gone.

PRACTICE 3

In the Stanzas 1 and 2, the persona enhances the tone of frustration as he shares his disabilities and
weariness of not being able to fight for the country anymore.



(a) He is old and disabled

(b) He voices out the problem encountered by the younger generation nowadays. He implies how the
modern generation deceives each other and how the deceit is being spread day by day and it obviously
bothers him.



PRACTICE 4

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.



(a) No time

(b) The repetition is an indication of mankinds dilemma. We merely go on with our fast paced lives as
though nature is nothing special, when in reality it is a magnificent creation like a work of art hanging in
a museum.



PRACTICE 5

United population. In order to fight for our freedom, first we have to be united.



(a) younger generation

(b) We must defend our independence after the hardships that our late warriors had been through as
they sacrificed themselves to grant us the peace that we are able to enjoy now. With all of our efforts,
we must work hard to retain it.




























POEM: LEISURE

Couplet 1:
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

The poet questions the purpose of a life which is full of worries that it does not give us any space to
simply stand still and watch the world go by.

Couplet 2:
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.


People who live a hectic life would not possess the leisure to stand under the branches of trees and
keep staring into space. However, sheep and cows can often be seen standing still in vast open fields
and staring into a distance.


Couplet 3:
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

When people walk pass a forest, they would be in too much of a hurry to notice the nooks and crannies
in the grass where squirrels hide their nuts.


Couplet 4:
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

In daylight, rivers appear to be sparkling under the effect of sunshine as though the streams are full of
stars like the night sky.


Couplet 5:
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

The rush of life provides people with no leisure to turn at the glance of a beautiful girl and marvel at her
dancing feet.


Couplet 6:
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

They are unable to leisurely observe her as her mouth shapes out a smile that started from her eyes.


Couplet 7:
A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

A life which is so tied down by worries that it allows one no time for leisure is indeed a miserable life. It
means that we have a poor life if we have no time to relax physically or mentally.