Leisure
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 not time to stand and stare.
Sure, it's not what I would call poetry, verse at best, but it's the sentiment that counts, right?
Go on, let's all follow this advice today, for a little while.
I agree with you absolutely: it is not top poetry, but for sentiment it cannot be faulted - and if there were no worse poems than this one, how much improvement to the world's stock would that represent?
ReplyDeleteRight on dear Friko. Its all in the way it makes us feel. Love this day. You will only have it once. That is my own saying. Blessings
ReplyDeleteQMM
This is very nice and much better than any poetry I attempt because is has the solid nuggets of ideas and thoughts that bring understanding.
ReplyDeleteI remember learning this when I was at school, and, years later, listening to my daughter recite it when she was at school. It may not be up there with the 'greats' but I think it can be called a people's favourite.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Friko,
ReplyDeletehope you had a nice weekend. Like the Hamlet quote very much! Same can be said for the entry of you today. Spend many hours upon the playground (again), sharing the swing with my son, looking into air, towards the ground, into air, towards the ground, into air ...
Ach, war so toll! Please have a nice start into the new week.
How very interesting! This is one of my wife's favorite poems. Something wonderfully pastoral and refreshing about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder. And thanks for visiting my blog.
That is a beautiful poem, for its sentiment, for its sense of life passing, for the pastoral references. We're missing it! Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteI try to make a little time each day just to "stand and stare". The view from my kitchen window never ceases to give me pleasure and changes from hour to hour - minute to minute sometimes!
ReplyDeleteGosh, I've seen a lot worse than that called poetry.
ReplyDeleteHello Friko! I like this post a lot! Every day I take the time to stand and stare!
ReplyDelete:)
Aaahhhh, Friko.
ReplyDeleteIt is so good to sit down and read your blog again. How I missed your beautiful pictures, poetry, and musings! You deserve every single one of those awards! (I feel rather smug about being your first fan!)
Dave - yes indeed. If I could write poetry like you I might attempt it but my pitiful efforts would just add to the dross.
ReplyDeleteQueenmothermamaw - a wise saying indeed, spread it around!
Tabor - glad you think so, not bad, is it?
When I am Rich - Absolutely, it is certainly trotted out enough and none the worse for that.
Robert - Thanks for the good wishes. Enjoy playing with your son while he is little; he'll soon enough grow up. Swings are such fun.
Rob-bear - it's a pleasure.
Margaret - Let's try and remember to stop more often.
Twiglet - Good for you - I'm not bad at staring out of my kitchen window either - we do have such wonderful views hereabouts!
20th C Woman - Me too, that's why I won't write any.
Rain - Sensible of you - we'd all be better off if we did it.
Karen - Glad to have you back. Hope to see your picture soon?
Hi Friko re P Coo
ReplyDeleteAll you do is register and then write a bit about yourself by way of "interview". I am sure you would enjoy the friendship, humour and info.
I have been a "visitor" for a while but plucked up courage to join this week.You always post brilliant blogs and will have common interests with many on the site - some are local to us too!