W.H. Davies - Leisure - Newport, Gwent, Wales.
N 51° 35.087 W 002° 59.641
30U E 500414 N 5714858
'Stand and Stare' commemorates Newport's 'Supertramp' poet, W.H.Davies, whose poem 'Leisure' contains the famous lines: "What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare"
Waymark Code: WMFJNN
Location: South Wales, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/27/2012
Views: 2
Stand And Stare - A bronze sculpture by Paul Bothwell Kincaid. Standing 10 feet high, in Commercial Street, a pedestrianised shopping area in Newport, Gwent, Wales.
"Tall bronze sculpture of figure draped in cloth, entwined with tree, two birds either side of figure. Commissioned by Newport Borough Council with assistance from the Welsh Arts Council and a Welsh Development Agency Town Improvement Grant. It was unveiled on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the poet's death in 1940, by Councillor Harry G. Jones, Mayor of Newport, in December 1990 Sculpture commemorates the life and work of Newport born poet, W.H. Davies. Described as Newport's super-tramp poet. The work is based around his best known lines: 'What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare'. The sculpture represents a spirit figure enshrined within the body of the tree of life. It is a 'visually dramatic memorial of man returning to his roots, being evocative of the mysteries of nature, it invites contemplation of the very nature of life'. The spirit figure is enshrined within the tree of life, attended by two birds signifying the poet's creativity and freedom of expression." Text Source: (
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