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W. H. Davies

Leisure

A young man dressed in clothes from the 1890s relaxes under a tree

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.

Listen to this poem

Read by Michael Dalling · Source: Librivox.org

About the poet

W. H. DaviesW. H. Davies
1871-1940

 
By the same poet
Money, O!
Days Too Short
Francis Thompson
A Plain Life
Joy and Pleasure
The Rain
 
Related books
William Henry Davies at amazon.co.uk