Monday, November 16, 2009

Stand and stare


Inspired by Buttontree Lanes's post

I decided to share my favourite poem from my school days (grade 5 I think) :

LEISURE

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 if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

William Henry Davies

I think this poem began my love for cows. I think it also applies somewhat to perusing other things of beauty such as blogs and books, etc that inspire us.

Do you have a favourite from school?


4 comments:

  1. That was an awesome poem!

    I fell in love with Samuel Taylor Coleridge in school (I have a slightly dark temperament).


    In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
    A stately pleasure-dome decree :
    Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
    Through caverns measureless to man
    Down to a sunless sea.
    So twice five miles of fertile ground
    With walls and towers were girdled round :
    And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
    Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree ;
    And here were forests ancient as the hills,
    Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.

    ...

    and so forth.

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  2. that poem is wonderful. i think everyone in the world should stop and read it and learn to take time out and appreciate the world for all it's beauty. maybe then carbon emissions would lessen and we would take better care of our home.
    l
    x

    ReplyDelete

Thankyou for your kind thoughts. I appreciate and read everyone even though at times I may not be well enough to reply. Thankyou.