Why does the poet W. H. Davies say the streams are full of Stars?
'Leisure' by W. H. 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.
Misinterpretation
True Meaning
As you can see he states in broad daylight the stream is full of stars, like skies at night. These 'stars' in the stream he's referring to are reflections of light on the moving surface of the water, glimmering all over the stream, a mesmerising sight bearing resemblance to a sky full of stars.
Watch this video to hear the recording of author W. H. Davies reading his classic poem:
