What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
A quick tour of the BBC website and you’d think all is not well in the world – the media, quite rightly, throws images and stories at us which are difficult to read, unpleasant to watch and we wish weren’t there. But that is the reality – from war and the resulting prospect of famine, to a cost of living crisis looming up on the near horizon, to domestic politics which more resemble a chaotic playground squabble. If we want a better world, we all of us have an obligation to try and make it a better place – if enough of the small stuff gets better, the bigger stuff follows. I guess it’s all about how engaged we want to be and whether we want to try, and feel as though we can, to make a difference – smile at a stranger, say hello to the cashier in the supermarket, pick up a piece of litter, tell your parents how much you love them (because they love you too), share a book with a friend – the building may take a while to complete, but the foundations of a good society are built from many small and simple gestures.
That same BBC website threw up a small story of a small and simple pleasure – it’s buried in the coverage of the Commonwealth Games and features the sport of Lawn Bowls. At the Commonwealth level it’s a sport with high levels of competitive passion, but at a more local, leisure level down at the local Lawn Bowls Club, things may simmer beneath the surface for the players, but as a spectator all is calm and beautiful – and I think it’s the same for other ‘slow’ sports – fly fishing & village cricket spring to mind – find a sunny spot and just sit and watch.
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 or 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.
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