What Is This Life

1 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;

2 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;

3 No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
and watch her feet, how they can dance.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.


Source: Singing the Living Tradition #94