Detailed Summary: Leisure | Oxford English for Class 4 PDF Download

About the Poet

William Henry Davies was a Welsh poet and writer born in 1871. He lived a life full of adventures and challenges. When he was young, he had to work many different jobs, which made him understand the struggles of ordinary people. Davies was not just a poet; he also wrote plays and stories. He is best known for his simple and natural style of writing, which often reflects his love for nature and the world around him. He wrote many poems about the beauty of nature and the importance of taking time to enjoy life. In his own life, he faced hardships, including poverty and illness, but he always found joy in the little things. His poem "Leisure," from which the lines you provided are taken, encourages people to slow down and appreciate the beauty of the world. Davies passed away in 1940, but his poems continue to inspire many people today.

Key Points of the Poem

• The poem "Leisure" consists of two stanzas.
• It emphasizes the importance of taking time to appreciate nature and beauty.
• The speaker questions the meaning of life if we are too busy to enjoy it.
• Davies uses simple imagery to convey his message, such as sheep, cows, and squirrels.
• The repetition of the line about having no time highlights the central theme of the poem.
• The poem suggests that a life filled with care and worry is not a fulfilling one.

Detailed Summary

Stanza 1

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.

In this first part of the poem, the poet is asking a big question. He wants to know what life means if we are always busy and worried. He says that if we are so busy and worried that we don’t take a moment to stop and look around us, then what kind of life is that? The poet uses simple examples that everyone can understand. He talks about standing under the trees, which are called boughs. When we stand under a tree, we can look around and see the beautiful things in nature, just like how sheep and cows can enjoy the grass and the trees. They don’t rush; they take their time. The poet then mentions that we don’t even have time to notice little things when we walk in the woods. He gives an example of squirrels that hide their nuts in the grass. This means that if we are always rushing, we might miss seeing these cute little animals and their activities. It reminds us that nature has many beautiful things, but we need to slow down to see them. It is like when you are playing outside and you see a butterfly or a bird; if you are rushing, you might miss it!

Stanza 2

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.

In this second part, the poet continues his thoughts. He talks about how we don’t even have time to look at the beautiful things around us, even when it is bright and sunny outside. He compares beautiful streams of water to stars in the night sky, which is a really pretty picture. This means that the water sparkles and shines just like stars do when we look up at night. The poet also mentions something called Beauty and how we don’t take time to look at her. Beauty here means all the lovely things in life. When the poet talks about Beauty’s feet dancing, he is saying that we should notice how everything in nature moves and is alive. It’s like when you see a flower swaying in the wind or leaves rustling; it feels like they are dancing. The poet finishes this part by saying that we often don’t wait to see a full smile from Beauty. Sometimes, when we see someone smile, we can see their eyes light up first, and then their smile grows bigger. If we rush, we might miss the happiest parts of life. Again, he repeats that if we are full of worries and never stop to enjoy life, then we are living a sad life. This means that taking time to enjoy what is around us is very important for being happy. 

Theme/ Message

The poem "Leisure" by William Henry Davies teaches us how important it is to take time to enjoy life and nature. The poet asks us to stop and look around instead of always being busy. He describes beautiful things like trees, animals, and squirrels to show that nature is full of wonderful sights. Davies says that if we only focus on work and never take breaks, we miss out on the happiness that simple moments can bring. He encourages us to find time to relax, enjoy the world around us, and appreciate the little things that make life special.

Difficult Words

• Leisure: Free time when one is not working and can relax or enjoy activities.
• Care: Worries or concerns about something.
• Boughs: The main branches of a tree.
• Squirrels: Small animals with bushy tails that often climb trees and gather nuts.
• Enrich: To improve the quality of something or to make it better.
• Beauty: Something that is pleasing to the senses or brings joy.
• Streams: Small, flowing bodies of water.
• Stare: To look at something for a long time without moving.
• Poor: Not having enough money or resources; also used to describe something that is lacking.
• Pass: To go by or move past something.
• Broad: Wide or spacious.
• Nut: A hard-shelled fruit or seed, often eaten as food.
• Dance: To move rhythmically to music.
• Glance: A quick look at something.
• Life: The existence of living beings; the condition of being alive.