Making hay means drying grass and the work of hay making mainly depends upon fair weather. As in England and other cold countries sunny weather is a very uncertain factor, so the farmer has to make best use of his opportunities. If he becomes indolent and lets the opportunity of drying his hay in the bright sunshine of summer away, his grass is likely to be ruined. So, in a broader sense, this proverb means, just as weather is uncertain so is the case with our life. Bright sunshine is the youth of our life. Youth comes but once in our lifetime, and the vigour and buoyancy; opportunities that come with youth, too may not come again and again. Hence, when once they come we must seize them. If we loose the chance, nothing but repentance remains and it becomes useless to weep over the spilt milk. So we must, like the farmer act at right time in the right direction and complete our work sincerely. If we do not avail ourselves of the opportunities, we shall be left wringing our hands in despair when the opportunities have slipped away. Opportunities, there fore, must not be allowed to pass un-noticed, particularly when they are within our grasp. A student, who neglects his studies, cannot get through even if he burns the midnight oil, just a day or two before the examination.