Leisure

I do believe most of us would remember these lines:

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.

It's titled 'Leisure' by W. H. Davies. This poem is generally included in Fifth-Standard textbooks, i guess for its simplicity, but the simple and effective truth it holds, we fail to comprehend at that level. After all, what use is a path lined by flowers, if we can't stop to smell their fragrance? And in that case, what right do we have, to complain if the path is rough or rocky? From the time we get up, it's running to work, then running around on work, and finally running home, eating, sleeping. Of what use is a fat paycheck when we earn so much, that we have forgotten how to live? Of what use is indulging in social service, in serving the society, when we fail to be at hand, to our own members of family? Charity after all, begins at home. Unknowingly or otherwise, we get so busy with the world outside, that they finally end up managing without us; and then frustration sets in, stirs up the insides, leaves the same way it came in, and things resume the same routine from the next day. The same running to work/college, running around on work, and running back home. Maybe work is a necessity.. and we need to work in order to survive.. but then, its not about survival, life is about living. Money, people, circles and society come and go, but what about those who stand by us throughout our lifetime? We snap and snarl at them in our everyday pre-occupations, and forget seemingly insignificant things, which might, in fact, mean a lot to them. Of what use is saying, "Oh, sh*t!", when the damage is already done?Work is an excuse, but we, at this age, don't have one. With phone in one hand, eyes glued to the comp, or just acting as Mr. Responsible-For-The Entire-College, what happened to appreciation of the small joys of life? Obviously, we tend to cut down on patience levels, what with the frustration of doing something when we know we want to do something else, and be someplace else. How long has it been, since we indulged in some serious gossip, laughed till we cried, called each other names, slept in our grandmothers lap, had a long talk with that someone, kept up our promise of always being there to share joy or sorrow, or just making that special someone feel special. Maybe after ten years, when we look back at college days, and try to remember all the fun things we did, in 'the wildness of youth', we'd just be left groping in our heads, for a memory. Maybe even now, all we are left with, are memories, when now is the time we really get to make them. For once we divorce into our respective fields, and step into offices, these days would never come back. So take a breath of the fresh air, before stepping into college, or pause to admire the full moon smiling down, for,life does not give everyone a second chance. Don't emulate the ants instead of the butterflies, for life is a journey that you embark on, whose paths are more enjoyable than the destination itself. No one really makes you do something until you're a little inclined to do it, so don't complain about what you did, and what you didn't have time for. Learn to live, and then to let live.