The delightful P reminded me of a poem I know but have never read.
W H 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 and 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.
I went to Chester this evening to see the Spanish comedy The Good Boss with the delightful Javier Bardem.
It wasn’t as good as I hoped , so I left the Storyhouse early .
It was raining so I drove home and got home late for me at around 10.30.
The dogs and Albert and I walked down the Lane soon after
It was humid and raining still, but only lightly
And we all stopped at the end of the lane and stared at the sky to the West, the clouds over the hawthorn hedges that shadowed the hidden moon.
Albert chatted his teeth at the bats that circled the single street light and seemed to stand and stare too
And Dorothy growled a low growl when the horses in the livery fields stomped their feet in the grass.
Mary sat down and leaned against my calf , just happy in company
We stood there for an age, until my hair flattened
A poor life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare
And what good company you had with which to stand and stare!
ReplyDeleteAnd Roger to come
DeleteTotally in the moment. Just being with your family. Beautiful. One of my favourite pieces x
ReplyDeleteThese animals have kept me sane patty
DeleteI do exactly that-Each day-In a stream with my dogs needing it to continue my day x
ReplyDeleteThey balance u
DeleteI was standing peacefully and barefoot with my dogs in a ford early one morning beneath the trees - A middle aged gentleman was sitting down in the water close by wearing his trunks-Apparently he does this every morning throughout the year x
DeleteLove this!!! Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteXx🤪
DeleteWhat a lovely poem! Ta to P and to you for posting it. It seems as if part time work is suiting you to a T!
ReplyDeletePuppy day tomorrow?!!!
Hugs!
Not yet babs
DeleteThat's lovely, John! xx
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice moment
DeleteI enjoy a poem that actually rhymes! This is a good one!!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering, too, if the pup is coming home very soon?
Made me smile , the end was ideal.
ReplyDeleteThank u
DeleteHow lovely...both the poem and the moment. Ironically I was watching a bat tonight too. He was in the the house.
ReplyDeleteArnt they fast
DeleteHow wonderful. Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteCheers for reading it
DeleteI have just come downstairs to find a huge telescope in the sitting room. I suppose son and grandsons were stargazing last night. Perfect weather for it.
ReplyDeleteSee the following post cro x
DeleteThere is too much light where I live to see much beyond the brightest stars on a very clear night. I have taken to staring at the James Webb telescope pictures that I find on YouTube. They are breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteOff to google them
DeleteResting in and enjoying those wonderful moments. It's a beautiful poem. Your evening walks with the dogs in summer are to be treasured.
ReplyDeleteAnd remembered
DeleteSuch a simple but lovely poem. I hadn't read the whole verse before. This is a lovely post. Ro xxx
ReplyDeleteI’m so happy today
DeleteThis is one of my favourite poems having learnt it in primary school over sixty years ago.
ReplyDeleteI would like to thank you so much for writing your blogs.
I look forward to reading them as they are so varied and interesting.
Wendy.
Stick with me kid, it gets worse
DeleteWendy's said it for me!
ReplyDelete🥰
DeleteAnimals know best; just take life at a slow pace. Stop and smell the flowers, bask in the sunshine. Life has a nasty habit of getting in the way of living sometimes! xx
ReplyDeleteAin’t that the truth
DeleteAnd such moments are free!
ReplyDeleteAnd I’m lucky to be able to experience them
DeleteBeautiful poem - I like the rhythm. 'We stood there for an age, until my hair flattened' I love this description of your conclusion to your stopping and staring at the end of the day. x
ReplyDeleteThank you deArheart x
DeleteMaybe this is why old people drive more slowly, they are taking time to see the world that has buzzed past in a lifetime of swirl.
ReplyDeletePerhaps
DeleteOne of my favourite poems, it does come back to be in moments of unexpected contemplation ... especially when looking out to sea or over a countryside gate.
ReplyDeleteI’m always learning, all I knew is the repeated one line
DeleteA beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteShould be required reading!!
As usual, I’m late to the party
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteObservation is all so important.
ReplyDeleteYes…I forget it
DeleteBeautiful, John Gray.
ReplyDeleteAs is your writing ms moon x
DeleteAnd soon there will be 4......Hugs! deb
ReplyDeleteYes, 2 weeks and counting
DeleteI once set a class to memorise this poem for homework and they did a great job. Out there is a group of thirty something multi cultural inner city dwellers who have this tu led away in their subconscious.
ReplyDeleteSuch a fascinating poet too
ReplyDelete