Explain with the reference to the context
This poem is “Leisure” written by William Henry Davis. In this poem poet says that today’s human life is too much busy and rushed. Even sheep and cows have much time than us for standing under the branches of green trees. We have no time for watching beautiful things of nature such as, jungles, squirrels nuts in the grasses, broad daylights and full of stars rivers.
We have no time for watching the beauty, her dancing feet and smiling face which enrich us. Poet says our life is poor because it is full of care and we have no free time for enjoying the beauty of nature.
Leisure by William Henry Davies
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 is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
Questions:
Q1. What are some of the simple delights we miss in our rushed life?
Ans: We have no time to stand under green branches of trees
Even sheep and cows have much time than us to look at them
As well as no time for watching jungles, hiding nuts squirrels in grasses, nor shining daylights, nor star-full rivers, likewise we have no time for glancing at beauty or her dance or smiling face.
Q2. The poet has used a personification: can you point it out?
Ans: Yes we can point it out. The poet has imagined the beauty’s feet, face, smile and dance.ۡ
Q3. How would you define a personification?
Ans: We shall define the personification is an act of imagining the invisible as visible. Personifying something means giving imaginary shape or form to someone or something. For example we say our beloved is like a rose.