1. Poem – Leisure By: William Henry Davies

2. William Henry Davies Born in Wales in 1871 A poor man
Wrote poems based on his experience as a tramp.
Died in 1940

3. What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare
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 stars 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
Couplet 1
Couplet 2
Couplet 3
Couplet 4
Couplet 5
Couplet 6
Couplet 7

4. What is the poem about?
Reminds us to take time to appreciate the beauty of nature & be thankful to God for all His creations.
HOWEVER, if we are too busy with our daily life & worry too much, WE FORGET to watch & admire nature’s beauty.
It is a sad life if we can’t find time to relax and appreciate the nature around us.

5. BUSY LIFE

6. The meaning of the poem

7. Stanza 1
What is this life if, full of care, What is the purpose of life if full of worry (because too busy with work & problems)

8. Stanza 1
We have no time to stand and stare. We do not have time to pause and admire the nature around us.

9. Stanza 2
No time to stand beneath the boughs, Busy people do not have time to stand under the trees

10. Stanza 2
And stare as long as sheep or cows Just like sheep and cows which graze in the fields. They just stand and stare at their surrounding.

11. Stanza 3
No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. Busy people do not see squirrels hide their nuts in grass when they pass through the forests.

12. ..woods we pass

13. ..squirrels hide their nuts in grass

14. Stanza 4
No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like stars at night. Rivers sparkle in the sunlight. In the day, the rivers look like stars at night. But, busy people do not have time to see this.

15. Streams full of stars
Like stars at night

16. Stanza 5
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. Nature is personified as a beautiful woman who is glancing and dancing. When a woman glance or dance, she will move parts of her body. When nature changes, it is like a beautiful dancer. Busy people do not have time to admire the changes (movement) of nature.

17. Couplet 6
No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. Busy people do not have time to watch the changes in nature. When nature changes, it is like a smile that starts from the eyes and spreads slowly to the mouth.

18. When nature changes, it is like a woman’s smile
When nature changes, it is like a woman’s smile. The smile starts from the eyes and spreads slowly to the mouth.

19. Stanza 7
A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. It is a sad life if we do not have leisure time.

20. Poetic Devices

21. 1. Rhyme
The repetition of the same sound at the end of a line in poem.
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

22. No time to stand beneath the boughs
2. Imagery
The mental picture that attracts the senses
No time to stand beneath the boughs

23. stand and stare. 3. Alliteration
The repetition of consonant sounds in the first syllables of a series of words
stand and stare.

24. 4. Rhetorical question What is this life if, full of care,
A question which is asked, but not expected to get an answer.
What is this life if, full of care,

25. 5. Repetition No time to see, when woods we pass,
The repetition of words or lines in a poem
No time to see, when woods we pass,
No time to see, in broad daylight,

26. 6. Metaphor No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
A comparison between 2 different things without using ‘like’ or ‘as’
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

27. And stare as long as sheep or cows.
7. Simile
A comparison between 2 different things which uses ‘like’ or ‘as’
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

28. 8. Personification And watch her feet, how they can dance.
Inhuman things are given human qualities.
And watch her feet, how they can dance.