7 February 2023 —LEISURE BY W.H. DAVIES (1871–1940)

‘What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare? No time to stand beneath the bows 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 the feet, how they can dance; no time to wait till her mouth can enrich that smile her eyes began?

A POOR L IFE THIS IF, FULL OF CARE, WE HAVE NO TIME TO STAND AND STARE.

This is a poem with which I was brought up and of which I am very fond. And the poet’s fears I feel were unfounded. Despite the never ending amount of traffic on the roads today people still take time to drive to places of beauty, park the car and walk and STAND AND STARE!

Whether they stare as long as sheep and cows is another matter!! AND, of course, these days people don’t always STAND AND STARE! They spend much time staring down at their mobile phones whilst they walk along!

PONDER POINTS: on reading this my thoughts were…my feelings are …