A couple of weeks ago I read an article that spoke about how we no longer allow or teach children to relax and do nothing. We are all on the go 24\/7 and at some point our batteries need a recharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This reminded me of an instances a few years ago:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I walked I saw in the distance my friend Martin, unusually Martin had two dogs with him. \u201cWhere has the other dog come from?\u201d I asked Martin, as we drew level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe belongs to my son in law and I think she suffers from dementia.\u201d This seemed a strange diagnosis to make and I asked why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell she sometimes just stands and stares.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I found this odd as something that I do on a regular basis was being used as a diagnosis for dementia, also the phrase \u201cstands and stares\u201d took me back, back a long time, a time when at school I had read and learned a poem entitled \u201cLeisure\u201d written in 1911 by W H Davies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is this life if, full of care, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have no time to stand and stare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No time to stand beneath the boughs<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And stare as long as sheep and cows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No time to see, when woods we pass,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No time to see, in broad daylight,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No time to turn at beauty\u2019s glance<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And watch her feet, how they can dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No time to wait until her mouth can<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Enrich the smile her eyes began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A poor life this if, full of care<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have no time to stand and stare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I first read the poem I had no real understanding of its meaning but what did attract me was the sound and rhythm of the words, this had stuck in my mind. The language was just beautiful to listen to, but what would you expect from a Welshman, the Welsh know how to use language, just listen to Richard Burton reading Dylan Thomas\u2019s \u201cUnder Milkweed\u201d and you will understand what I mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later, I came to appreciate the warning that the words held, a message that to live a life dominated by the pressures of modern living will have a detrimental affect on your spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These pressures are all related to time and the perceived need to be constantly available. Davies realised that the impact of the speed of modern life would not be good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, what is most interesting is that Davies took his inspiration from a sonnet by Wordsworth, a sonnet that Wordsworth had written in 1802 entitled \u201cThe World is too much with us\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wordsworth\u2019s sonnet was also a warning of the perils of the industrial revolution and with its words \u201clate and soon\u201d and \u201cgetting and spending\u201d we come to realise that little in life changes and that Wordsworth was able to make a sobering comment upon our life in the 21st century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just maybe, we should all take some time to stand and stare, to slow down the pace a little bit, to appreciate our surroundings, to relish the quiet moment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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