‘Leisure’ Summary:‘Leisure’ by William Henry Davies highlights the importance of leisure in one’s life and how
the hectic modern life has alienated one from nature.
In this poem, Davies talks about the importance of being close to nature. The poem begins
with some examples of what one can do to exhale the stress out of one’s body. If one only
cares about the body, forgetting about how beautiful and soothing nature is, it will lead that
person to spiritual poverty. Moreover, the poet makes use of imagery to portray the beauty
of nature. All one has to do is to “stand and stare” at the simple activities of different
creatures living close to nature.
Meaning
The meaning of the poem is not hard to decode. The simplicity of the poem gives readers an
idea of how simple things can touch a person deeply. Moreover, the title of the poem,
‘Leisure,‘ highlights the fact that one should have to make time for one’s mind and soul. A
person has to invest that time in simple activities. The poet provides some solutions that one
can follow to keep his or her mind healthy. Moreover, the significance of the proximity to
nature is the main idea of the poem.
"Leisure" celebrates the joy and importance of relaxation while also painting a vivid picture
of the natural world. Nature isn't in a hurry or "full of care" in the same way that people so
often are, the poem implies, and nature's beauty can be a balm to the anxious soul.
The poem presents the countryside as a lovely, harmonious place. There are sheep and cows
lounging for hours beneath the trees, relaxing in the shade and "star[ing]" at the world
around them. Sunlight sparkles on the surface of a stream in a way that calls to mind a starry
night sky, hinting that even this humble scene offers a glimpse of the universe—of the
heavens—itself.
Nature isn't all stationary sheep and cows, either. There's definitely activity in nature, but it
contrasts with the kind of "care" that seems to dominate the human world. Squirrels "hide
their nuts in grass," for example, while "Beauty," personified in the poem as a woman,
dances around happily in the forest.
While the poem never explicitly mentions city life, its celebration of nature's rhythms implies
that human cares are shallow and meaningless by contrast. Indeed, the poem suggests that
people can and should learn from nature's example and that nature's immense, harmonious
beauty puts human "care" into perspective.