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William Henry Davies
William Henry Davies (1871 - 1940 / Monmouthshire / Wales)
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William Henry Davies was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. His father was, at the time a Publican. After an apprenticeship as a picture-frame mak .. more >>
48 poems of William Henry Davies
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Leisure

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  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 is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

William Henry Davies


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Read poems about / on: dance, smile, beauty, time, night, life, sky, star

 
  Comments about this poem (Leisure by William Henry Davies )
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  Lee Harrison  (10/28/2006 2:45:00 AM)

Thanks to Luis Gumucio of Santiago, Chile, I have 're' discovered this poem that I learnt in Grammar School in England in the mid-sixties.
Being an eternal romantic the verse that had stuck in my mind for forty years is... ' No time to wait till her mouth can, enrich that smile her eyes began', but indeed, the words should help us reflect on what we are doing with our lives and others lives.
  Daphne Grant  (3/20/2006 3:18:00 PM)

This is a poem that many people know, but don, t know the author. It is often quoted because it gives us chance to think what are we doing with our lives?
How to make time to be quiet, rest and contemplate how we are doign, our goals. Our Treatment of others etc. So read and enjoy it and remember the name of the author, then if any one askes Yes, you can I know William Henry Davies and say it proudly.
Thanks for listening.
  Arindam Gupta  (5/19/2005 8:32:00 AM)

This poem reveals how far we have come away from Nature. It may also imply that unless we make it our goal to discover and appreciate Nature we may be doomed.
  Meena Venkat  (3/7/2005 8:41:00 AM)

wonderful poem ive read, love reading poems, this one points out the reality v face

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