What is this life, if full of care ...

8:00 am.

I am getting late for work. The daughter, not quite three yet, is still lazing. I find her standing by the window. Gazing out langorously.

"We need to go", I tell her. "What are you doing?"
"I am looking" she says, and continues to.

(God! It looks like this is going to take a while! I hope I don't find traffic on my way to work.)

"Looking at what?" I ask.
She turns to me and pauses, like she is considering the question. Turns back to the window.
"I am looking".

LEISURE - By William Henry 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.