A poor life this

It's National Poetry Day, apparently.

In recognition of that fact, as I wearily try and muster myself for another day in the office, here is one of my favourites - Leisure by the Welsh poet W.H. Davies, read by the mellifluous Sir John Gielgud:

John Gielgud reads Leisure by W.H. (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.

William Henry Davies (3rd July 1871 – 26th September 1940)

We shall touch the Happy Isles

One of the greatest actors of all time Sir John Gielgud would have celebrated his 106th birthday today. Any excuse, really, for a bit of culture on this gloomy Wednesday...

Alfred Lord Tennyson - Ulysses read by Sir John Gielgud

’Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.

It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.