Simple, direct and meaningful Refers to activity that we enjoy doing during free time Represents the persona

perspective about beauty and nature.

Born on 3rd July 1871 in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. He had to live a life of poverty after his father passed away when he was only two years old. He was then brought up by his grandparents. He spent most of his life as a tramp in the US and UK before becoming a well-known poet. His poems are mainly based on his own experiences as a tramp, travelling adventures and the various people he encountered along the way.

His poems also highlight the beauty of nature and hardship in life. His first poetry book The Soul Destroyer and other poems was published in 1905. His best-known work The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp which was published in 1907. In 1926, Davies was honored with the Degree of Doctor Litteris Honoris Causa from the University of Wales. He died at the age of 69 on 26th September 1940

Meaning :

Couplet 1 : What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

- The persona stresses that in these modern times we are leading a hectic life, full of worries and responsibilities that we hardly have time to observe the simple pleasure of life around us.

Couplet 2 : No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows.

Meaning : - We do not have enough time to rest and relax under the shady trees. Unlike the sheep or cows, we hardly have time to observe the simple things in nature.

Couplet 3 : No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

Meaning : - When we pass by small forest, we do not take the time to observe and admire the beauty of nature around us such as the squirrels when they hide their nuts in the grass.

Couplet 4 : No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like stars at night.

Meaning : - The persona mentions that we are so busy that we do not take the time to see the stream sparkling in the sunlight which are like the sky full of shining stars at night.

Meaning :

Couplet 5 : No time to turn at Beautys glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance.

- The persona compares the beauty of nature to a beautiful dancer.

- He says that we are so busy that we do not have time to stop and watch when she dances gracefully.

Couplet 6 : No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began.

Meaning : - The persona also highlights that we fail to appreciate and enjoy the many aspects of beauty as we are too busy with our responsibilities.

Meaning :

Couplet 7 : A poor life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

- The persona reminds us that life is meaningless if we fail to admire and enjoy the beauty of nature.

The poem consists of seven couplets. A couplet is a stanza with only 2 lines. The last words of each couplet rhyme. Example : * care stare (couplet 1 & 7) : * boughs cows (couplet 2) : * pass- grass (couplet 3) : * daylight - night (couplet 4) : * glance - dance (couplet 5) : * can - began (couplet 6) The rhyming scheme of the 7 couplets are aa, bb, cc, dd, ee, ff, gg.

The style is simple and straightforward. The language is simple and easy to understand.

The poet uses the word we, her and they in most of the couplet so it is the third person point of view. The poet and the persona could be the same person which is someone who loves nature and beauty. The poet includes himself with the people around him.

The poem has a serious and thoughtful tone The persona is very sincere as he reflects on our busy lives which prevents us from enjoying the beauty of nature and life.

Time The present Daytime

Place Countryside / village

1)

Personification Non-living things are given human qualities For example : Beauty in couplet 5 is given human characteristics and abilities. Beauty is able to glance, dance and smile She has eyes, feet and a mouth.

2) Alliteration Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. For example : * stand and stare (couplet 1&7) : * beneath the boughs (couplet 2) : * when wood we pass (couplet 3) : * streams full of stars (couplet 4)

3) Repetition A word repeated for emphasis. For example : no time to this phrase is repeated in all of the couplet to emphasis that man today lead a hectic life. full of care - this phrase is repeated in couplet 1 & 7 to emphasizes that mans life is full of worries and responsibilities. we have no time to stand and stare - this phrase is also repeated in couplet 1 & 7 to stress the fact that we are busy with our work and responsibilities and do not have enough time to enjoy the beauty of nature.

4) Imagery When the poet uses language to describe something that touches our five senses. In this poem we can see a lot of examples of visual imagery. For example : streams full of stars (couplet 4) creates a picture of stream sparkling in the sunlight. and watch her feet, how they can dance (couplet 5) a life-like image of graceful woman dancing.

enrich that smile her eyes began (couplet 6) we can imagine someone giving a bright smile stand beneath the boughs (couplet 2) squirrels hide their nuts in grass (couplet 3)

5) Simile A comparison between 2 different things which uses like or as For example : and stare as long as sheep or cows (couplet 2) - it contrasts our busy focused lives and the calm, unhurried pace of animals. - modern man has no time to stare into the distance like sheep and cows.
-

streams full of stars like stars at night (couplet 4) the effect of the sunlight on the running water of the stream reminds the persona of the star in the night sky.

1) -

The Importance Of Leisure Life should not be a mad rush We need to have time to pause and relax If we do not have time for leisure, we will miss out on quality life There are many wonderful and beautiful things that surround us, but we need to be free from our daily duties to enjoy them

2) The Beauty Of Nature

The simple pleasures of life are free We can benefit much if we take a break from our daily chores and observe the wonders of the natural world Standing still in peaceful natural surroundings gives us time to pause from all activities and reflect on life

1)

Live a balanced life In our rush to attain material wealth and lead a more comfortable life, we have forgotten to take time to relax and enjoy the simple pleasure in life We should not work all the time with no rest

2) Set priorities correctly

In these modern times, we give too much important to worldly pleasure and let each day pass without taking time to observe and enjoy the beauty of nature The poet wants us to examine our priorities so that our life will not be a poor life that is only full of care So take time to set our priorities correctly.

THANK YOU