LEISURE (free time)

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 Beautys 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, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.
Synopsis
This poem is about our quality of life. The poem
tells us that life is rather meaningless if we do
not have the time to see the things of nature
around us like where the squirrels hide their
nuts in grass or enjoy the streams full of
stars like stars at night. Hence our lifestyle is
now a poor life that is full of care. The poet
shows us all the wonderful things in nature that
we are missing out when we live a life that is
so full of care and worries. Consequently, we
have no time for leisure. The title of the poem
Leisure suggests that we need to take time
off to relax and unwind.

Answer these questions:

1. What or who is the poet referring to when he

used the word Beauty?

Nature

2. Explain in your own words what is meant in

the first two lines of the poem.
The poet questions the purpose of a life
which is so full of worry that it does not
allow us any time to simply stand still and
watch the world go by.

3. Identify a line that demonstrates interactions

with nature.

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

4. Which phrase is repeated all over the poem?

No time