Not so many beach walks, and no snorkels, this week. I have been busy, but it’s actually the weather that has kept me inside – bitterly cold and a lot of rain. I don’t mind one or the other, but when both hit, I am firmly an inside person. which, in a busy week, is not a terrible thing. I got a lot done this week.
One evening as I was reading in my recliner with my weighted blanket and the heater blasting warm air I came across this poem – new to me, and nodded my agreement, then laughed at myself because I was kind of doing the opposite right there and then.
Leisure
by W. H. Davies
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 then, I realised that sometimes we just can’t be out and amongst this treasures of nature – especially in this Covid world, where so many are in lockdowns or isolation. And I reread the poem, and realised it isn’t saying we have to be doing those things all the time – just that when those things are there, we should allow ourselves leisure (rhymes with pleasure!) to enjoy. You don’t have to be on the beach or in the woods, or snorkelling to notice a moment of beauty. I call them ‘this’ moments. When I spot a tiny spider clinging to a web, or the way the sun shines through my back window making silvery fairy dust and I give myself a second, or a minute or whatever to think ‘this’ – this is lovely, or this is awe inspiring, or even this is kind of cool. Sometimes my ‘this’ comes when I am curled up inside with a wonderful book of poetry.
This morning, though, the rain has stopped for a while, and I was lucky enough to get back onto the beach. And it was a great big ‘this’ I was thinking as I strolled along the sand. I captured a minute of it in the hopes it might give someone else a this moment.
I hope there are lots of thises in your day. You might start by saying ‘this’ as you nod along to the poetry goodness being shared by other Poetry Friday bloggers. The round up is being hosted by Carol.
please let me know), Thanks.
Sally, the poem you shared is so important to me. I needed this reminder once again as I rush frantically trying to clear the unopened boxes that still exist in my new house. Your winter beach video is so restful. I am missing my ocean walks so I thank you for this gift of peace. (If I can share your winter beach in my Winter’s Embrace Gallery.
please let me know), Thanks.
Carol I am glad to share this peace with you, and of course you may also share this in your gallery. thank you for all you do.
Thank you for the winter beach THIS and for the reminder to slow down and notice. I’ll borrow your THIS as a way to center myself and remind me to stop longer than a heartbeat to notice and appreciate. (And then, maybe, write a poem about it!)
I look forward, as always, to reading those poems, Mary Lee.
I love your videos and it was lovely to see the winter beach. And the poem: I’m with W.H. Davies on leisure! Thanks for sharing that.
Thanks janice. I love sharing my videos and am glad the way they speak to others.
What a lovely video…I enjoyed every second. Those blues…that sand so lovely. I like your “this” moment lens. I think that’s what makes a poet. Thanks for the poem…it’s new to me to. I’m glad you got lots done and share an evening with us. It sounds cozy.
Thank you Linda. yes, my beach is really lovely – I often pinch myself to think that it is like a secret – only a handful of people there in the winter, and in summer, still never busy.
Definite “this” moment, especially the video. Even though I live on a lovely tropical island, we can’t get to the beach much these days because of gang activity on the road there. Thanks for sharing your beach! Soooo beautiful!
That’s a shame that you can’t get there, Ruth – so I am glad I could take you to my beach today.
Yes, Sally, looking forward to enjoying this moments today. Thank you for this poem. I was especially drawn to this couplet:
“No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began?”
How easy that is to walk by someone and hardly notice the smile or the greeting. I’m going to pay better attention, thanks to your post.
Glad to hear you connected Denise. yes, how often do we perhaps notice but then walk on? What do we miss?
A “poor life” indeed to miss those things. Wonderful poem, Sally, but also thanks for the beach & the sound. I am in love with the ocean, always wishing to be nearer. Hope you have some of the moments there along with winter inside keeping warm with poetry!
Thank you Linda. Our winter here is so much milder than so many others, so I am lucky that there will be many more beach moments ahead. And, in between times, poetry to keep me warm 🙂
I love this poem! And yes, it definitely fits with the ones I posted today. And is something I have been thinking about a lot as I race frantically around, trying to catch up on all that I didn’t get done during the 15 months of pandemic teaching. And I loved your beach video. I’m longing for beach time right now! Thank you!
Thank you Carol. I love how often there is a synchronicity in Poetry Friday posts from multiple posters.