Stanza No 1:What is this life if full of care,We have no time to stand and stare?No time to stand beneath the boughsAnd stare as long as sheep or cows.

Reference:These lines have been taken from “Leisure” written by “William Davies”.

Explanation:

In these lines, the poet says that our life is useless if it is full of worldly worries and cares. We are so much busy that we have no time to stand and look at the beauty around us. Even we have no time to stand under a tree and look its beautiful boughs. He criticizes the modern man by saying that the cows and sheep have time to watch the beauty of trees but unfortunately we have no time to enjoy this beauty of nature. Actually in these lines the poet warns us on our rushed life and advises us to spare some time to relax.

Stanza 2: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.

Reference to the Context:Same as above.

Explanation:In these lines, the poet shows his sadness on the busy life of modern man. He says that we are in so much hurry that we even not have time to enjoy the ordinary beauties of nature. While passing through woods we do not watch squirrels playing and hiding there nuts in grass. We even not enjoy the beauty of running brooks and streams. When the light of sun reflects from the water it looks like the sky full of stars in night. Here again he shows his sadness by saying that man has no time to watch this charming scene. In short, in the whole stanza is full of writer’s woe over business of modern man.

Stanza 3:No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,And watch her feet, how they can dance.No time to wait till her mouth canEnrich that smile her eye began.A poor life if, full of care,We have no time to stand and stare.

Reference to the Context:Same as above.

Explanation:In early lines of the poem, the poet talks about different beauties of nature that we miss due to our rushed life. But in these lines, the poet refers to the human beauty. He says that apart from other beauties of nature man also does not enjoy human beauty that is always seen singing and dancing around him. Here he describes human beauty in the form of a young girl, who wants to share her smile with us. She wants to show her different dancing gestures. But, man is so much busy that he even not waits for so little time to see that smile that began from her eyes to reach her mouth. In the ending lines of the poem, here again the poet shows his disgust over the business of man. He says that it would be a poor life if it is full of worldly of cares and worries.