Leisure by William Henry Davies - Poem / Poetry Appreciation / Exercises on Poem / Question-Answer on Poem / Theme and Summary of Poem / Poem Analysis

Leisure

William Henry Davies

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.

Theme: The theme of Leisure by William Henry Davies is the importance of slowing down and appreciating the simple beauty of life. The poem criticizes the fast pace of modern life, where people are too preoccupied with their daily routines to notice the wonders of nature and the world around them. It calls for taking time to enjoy life’s small pleasures, suggesting that a life without leisure and reflection is unfulfilled.

Summary: In Leisure by William Henry Davies, the speaker reflects on the hectic pace of modern life, where people are too busy to enjoy the beauty of nature and their surroundings. The poem emphasizes that life’s simple pleasures, like watching squirrels or admiring the beauty of a stream, are often overlooked in the rush of daily activities. The speaker regrets that people rarely take time to pause and appreciate these moments. Ultimately, the poem argues that a life without leisure and mindfulness is incomplete and lacks true fulfillment.

Theme: A life without leisure is a great loss. We need to find time to stop and relax by putting aside work and worries. If we manage our time well, we will have leisure which will benefit us. Finding time to appropriate nature will help us to relax. It helps us to lead better life.

Paraphrasing

paraphrase of each sentence from the poem "Leisure" by William Henry Davies:

1. "What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare."

   • What is the meaning or value of life if it is filled with worries and responsibilities, leaving no opportunity to pause and observe the world around us?

2. "No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows."

   • We don't have time to rest under the branches of trees and gaze at our surroundings, just as animals like sheep and cows leisurely do.

3. "No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass."

   • We are too busy to notice the small details of nature, such as when we walk through forests and miss seeing where squirrels store their nuts in the grass.

4. "No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night."

   • We don't have time to appreciate the beauty of streams that sparkle in the daylight, resembling the stars in the night sky.

5. "No time to turn at Beauty’s glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance."

   • We are too preoccupied to acknowledge beauty when it presents itself, and we miss the chance to watch her graceful movements, like the dance of her feet.

6. "No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began."

   • We don't have time to wait for beauty to fully unfold, such as when her smile is made even more beautiful by the expression in her eyes.

7. "A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare."

   • A life that is consumed with worry and busyness is poor and unfulfilling if we don't have time to pause, reflect, and enjoy the beauty of life around us.

Short Answer Questions

1. 10 Short Answer Questions:

   1. What does the poet mean by "life full of care"?The poet refers to a life that is overwhelmed with responsibilities, stress, and worries.

   2. What is the significance of standing under the boughs?It represents taking time to relax and appreciate nature, rather than rushing through life.

   3. Why does the poet compare people to sheep and cows?The comparison suggests that people should take time to observe their surroundings, like animals that leisurely graze and take in their environment.

   4. What do squirrels symbolize in the poem?Squirrels symbolize the small, simple pleasures in nature that we often overlook because of our busy lives.

   5. How are streams described in the poem?Streams are compared to the stars in the sky, highlighting their beauty and the awe they inspire, especially when noticed during the day.

   6. What is the poet’s view of beauty?The poet sees beauty as something that should be appreciated and observed, not rushed past.

   7. What is meant by "Beauty’s glance"?"Beauty’s glance" refers to a fleeting moment when beauty appears, such as in a smile or a graceful gesture.

   8. How does the poet feel about the hurried pace of life?The poet believes that a hurried life, without time to appreciate beauty, is impoverished and unfulfilled.

   9. What is the central message of the poem?The poem’s central message is that life is lacking if we are too busy to take time to appreciate the small, beautiful moments around us.

   10. What does the poet suggest about "a poor life"?The poet suggests that a poor life is one that is full of care and devoid of moments for reflection or enjoying life’s simple pleasures.

Multiple-choice questions based on the text:

What is the central theme of the poem "Leisure"?

a) The importance of hard work

b) The fleeting nature of life

c) The value of leisure and appreciation of beauty

d) The inevitability of death

Answer: c) The value of leisure and appreciation of beauty

What does the poet mean by "we have no time to stand and stare"?

a) We do not have time to sit down

b) We do not have time to admire nature

c) We do not have time to eat

d) We are too tired to look around

Answer: b) We do not have time to admire nature

Which animal does the poet mention in the poem?

a) Cats

b) Dogs

c) Squirrels

d) Birds

Answer: c) Squirrels

What does the poet compare streams to in the poem?

a) Stars

b) Clouds

c) Rain

d) Rivers

Answer: a) Stars

What is the poet's tone throughout the poem?

a) Optimistic

b) Reflective and melancholic

c) Angry

d) Joyful

Answer: b) Reflective and melancholic

Why does the poet mention sheep and cows?

a) To illustrate that humans should be more like animals

b) To suggest that we should take time to relax like animals

c) To show how busy animals are

d) To compare animals' needs to human needs

Answer: b) To suggest that we should take time to relax like animals

What does the phrase "A poor life this if, full of care" mean?

a) Life is great when full of responsibility

b) A life focused only on work and worry is poor and unfulfilling

c) Care is essential for a happy life

d) Life is poor without friends

Answer: b) A life focused only on work and worry is poor and unfulfilling

What does "No time to see, in broad daylight" refer to?

a) The sunrise

b) The absence of sunlight

c) The busy nature of human life preventing us from noticing beauty in the daytime

d) A sunset

Answer: c) The busy nature of human life preventing us from noticing beauty in the daytime

What does the poet suggest about the "little moments" in life?

a) They are insignificant

b) They are the essence of life

c) They can be ignored

d) They should be avoided

Answer: b) They are the essence of life

What does the phrase "we have no time to turn at Beauty’s glance" suggest?

a) We have plenty of time to admire beauty

b) We are too busy to appreciate beauty around us

c) Beauty is fleeting and we should hurry to catch it

d) We must avoid beauty to be productive

Answer: b) We are too busy to appreciate beauty around us

Summary of "Leisure" by William Henry Davies:

In the poem "Leisure," the poet reflects on the fast-paced and busy nature of life, filled with worries and responsibilities, and how it prevents us from appreciating the simple beauties of the world around us. He questions the value of life if we are too busy to stop and observe the wonders of nature. The poet uses imagery of the natural world—such as trees, animals, streams, and beauty—to emphasize how we miss these moments because we are preoccupied with our cares. The speaker points out that even the simplest creatures, like sheep and cows, take the time to pause and enjoy their surroundings. Humans, however, are often too caught up in their daily lives to do the same. The poem expresses the idea that life is poor and unfulfilled if it is consumed with constant activity and leaves no time for leisure, appreciation, and reflection.

Short Theme: The theme of the poem "Leisure" centers on the importance of taking time to enjoy life's simple pleasures and appreciate nature. It criticizes the hurried, care-filled lifestyle that prevents people from pausing to observe and experience the beauty around them, suggesting that a life without leisure is a poor one.

Bangla Translation (Summary)

"অবসর" কবিতায় কবি জীবনের দ্রুতগতিসম্পন্ন এবং ব্যস্ত প্রকৃতি, উদ্বেগ এবং দায়িত্বে ভরা, এবং কীভাবে এটি আমাদের চারপাশের জগতের সহজ সৌন্দর্যের প্রশংসা করতে বাধা দেয়, তা নিয়ে প্রতিফলিত হয়েছেন। আমরা যদি প্রকৃতির বিস্ময়গুলি থামিয়ে পর্যবেক্ষণ করতে খুব ব্যস্ত থাকি তবে তিনি জীবনের মূল্য নিয়ে প্রশ্ন তোলেন। কবি প্রাকৃতিক জগতের চিত্রাবলী ব্যবহার করে জোর দিয়েছিলেন যে কীভাবে আমরা আমাদের উদ্বেগের কারণে এই মুহূর্তগুলি মিস করি। বক্তা উল্লেখ করেছেন যে ভেড়া এবং গরুর মতো সহজতম প্রাণীরাও তাদের চারপাশের পরিবেশ উপভোগ করার জন্য সময় নেয়। তবে, মানুষ প্রায়শই তাদের দৈনন্দিন জীবনে এতটাই ব্যস্ত থাকে যে তারা একই কাজ করতে পারে না। কবিতাটি এই ধারণাটি প্রকাশ করে যে জীবন দরিদ্র এবং অসম্পূর্ণ যদি এটি ক্রমাগত কার্যকলাপে নিমজ্জিত হয় এবং অবসর, প্রশংসা এবং প্রতিফলনের জন্য কোনও সময় না থাকে।

Ad