Mammoth Memory

Example 2 – Leisure

Leisure, by W. H. Davies

Leisure mnemonic

The new Leisure centre looked so weird, everyone asked: “WHAT IS it?”

So now you have the title and the first two words of the poem (What is). You now have to learn each line.

NOTE:

Because the lines of this poem are relatively short, we have made a link every two lines, rather than every line.

 

Leisure

(Press within the boxes below to reveal the mnemonic image, then select 'back to poem' to return to the list.)

 

What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.
"Stare" to "stand beneath the boughs"
No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows.
"Cows" to "to see, when woods we pass"
No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
"Grass" to "in broad daylight" 
No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
"Night" to "turn"
No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance.
"Dance" to "wait"
No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began.
"Eyes began" to "a poor life"
A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

 

 

Link 1

Link STARE to STAND BENEATH THE BOWS

link stare to stand beneath the bows

It was staring (stare) at me as I was standing beneath the boughs.

Link 2

Link COWS to TO SEE, WHEN WOODS WE PASS

link cows with when woods we pass

The giant cows like eating leaves as we are able to see when we pass the woods (to see, when woods we pass).

Link 3

Link GRASS to IN BROAD DAYLIGHT

link grass with broad daylight

He stole their grass in broad daylight!

Link 4

Link NIGHT to TURN

link night to turn

He said: “Look at that night sky!” but she just turned over.

Link 5

Link DANCE to WAIT

Link dance to wait

I couldn’t dance without my partner – I had to wait for her.

Link 6

Link EYES BEGAN to A POOR LIFE.

link eyes with poor life

Her eyes began to cry because she had such a poor life.

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