A New Anthology of English Verse

1. Leisure By William Davies

Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem
“Leisure” written by William Davies.

Context:
This poem is a protest against the unnecessary
commitment of man with worldly affairs. We arealways in a hurry and have no leisure time to lookat the beauty spread all around us. Man’smiserable life brings him nothing but sadness andworries.

Explanation:

(Lines 1 – 4)
In these lines the poet bewails our rushed life. The poetsays that we cannot call this life a pure life, if it is full ofworries and anxiety. We have no time to stand at a certainplace and look carefully at nature. Even we cannot spare afew moments to stand under the branches of green trees andenjoy the beautiful and restful shades of the trees. Thecommon animals like sheep and cows are better than us inenjoying life. We cannot look at the common animals likesheep and cows grazing in the pastures. We have committedourselves with worldly affairs unnecessarily and cannot enjoynature and the natural beauty spread all around us.

(Lines 5 – 6)
In these lines the poet tells us, when we pass throughsome forest, we do not have time to stop for some moments tolook at the trees tall and short, and enjoy their naturalbeauty. The dark green trees provide a soothing effect but weare always sick-hurried and cannot enjoy at least the simplebeauty. Also we cannot look at the small animals like
squirrels concealing their food-grain in the grass for the
winter. This minor scene can also give us relief.

(Lines 7 –8)
In these lines the poet says that human beings cannotsee the beauty that is hidden in the streams. During daytime, when the rays of the sun fall upon the clear water of thebrooks, the water reflects and shines like stars in the skyduring night. Sometimes water of streams, because of itsclearness seems so beautiful that even stones beneath thewater can be observed, which look like stars in the clear bluewater. This scene also resembles the stars shining in the skyat night.

(Lines 9 – 10) & (11 – 12)
The poet says we are so hard luck that we cannot watcha girl or a woman who dances in the field. The feet of thedancing girl are very attractive and bewitching but we cannotspare time to look at these feet as how they dance. Thisdancing girl can also amuse us with her performance. Thepoet also mourns that we have no time to wait for the words,the mouth of the dancing girl has to utter. As a sort of smilehas appeared in her eyes but we cannot wait for such time asthe words from her eyes are transferred to her lips. Thosewords can amuse us. In fact the poet uses personification, apoetic device to explain the natural beauty scattered allaround us. The poet personifies beauty as a young beautifuldancing girl having a smiling face.

(Lines 13 – 14)
In these concluding lines the poet regrets to say that
ours is a poor life. In a way it cannot be life if it is full of cares
and worries. Unluckily, we have no time to stand at a placeand look carefully at nature that can refresh us. As such ourlife is nothing but lamentation through and through. Ashuman beings we should spare some moments and look atnature and natural beauty spread around us and enjoy life.

Themes/Central ideas:
1.We should take time off from our daily work to enjoy nature.
2.Learn to relax and enjoy the simple pleasure of life. Learn to observe the little and beautiful things around us.
3.This rushed,pale and repetitious life is of no use if we do not enjoy the beauty around us.

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Man is [a perpetual] Anguish !