Poets and Poetry

I owe all my love for poems to my english school teacher Ms Jacintha who taught us to see and understand much beyond the written word. This is a gratitude remembrance poem to you dear Ma'am !!

I chose this poem Leisure by W.H . Davies first amongst many others as it is a personal favorite and applies so well even in today's times.We all are so absorbed in our everyday activities that we ignore the beauty around us... and truly so " What is this life if full of care.. we have no time to stand and stare" .Gone are the days when as little children we would spend whole afternoons just doing nothing... when was the last time we appreciated even that little flower bud that might bloom anyday , growing in our apartment compound... or have you recently noticed the foliage that can be seen outside the office window ?? Are we all just existing or do we need to start living life...Now !! So next time you are travelling to work or sitting on your desk just spare to minutes to observe and appreciate the beauty around you (and not just " see" it with blank eyes!!) Lets start adding meaning to everday life... today :-)

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.

And now a little something about the poet himself ( source: www.englishverse.com)

William Henry Davies (1871-1940)

William Henry Davies was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, the son of a publican. After an apprenticeship as a picture-frame maker and a series of labouring jobs, he travelled to America, first to New York and then to the Klondike.

He returned to England after having lost a foot jumping a train in Canada, where he led a penurious life in London lodging houses and as a pedlar in the country. He married in 1923, Emma, who was much younger than he. His first poems were published when he was 34.

Most of his poetry is on the subject of nature or life on the road and exhibits a natural simple, earthy style. He also wrote two novels and autobiographical works, his best known being Autobiography of a Super-Tramp.