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Barter by Sara Teasdale
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Sara Teasdale was born in St. Louis Missouri, on August 8th, 1884. She was the youngest of four. Throughout her life, Sara had been very ill and as a result was homeschooled until she was nine years old. Her first poem that was published was "Reedy's Mirror", and it was published in a local newspaper. Teasdale married Ernst Filsinger in 1914, but later divorced him in 1929. Pretty things were inspiration to Sara's poems. In 1933, however, she caught chronic pneumonia which had weakened her body, mind, and spirit. Once she was unable to see the beauty in simple things, Sara committed suicide at age 48 on January 29, 1933.
Life has loveliness to sell,
All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff,
Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And children's faces looking up
Holding wonder like a cup.
Life has loveliness to sell,
Music like a curve of gold,
Scent of pine trees in the rain,
Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit's still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.
Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be.
Teasdale is saying that although there are many negatives in life, the good outweighs the bad. She goes on to name all the simple things in life that bring joy to people, like the scent of pine trees in the rain. Sara also says that children's faces are a loveliness, showing the innocent of youth since children tend to be happier with simpler things and make the most of their experiences, which is what everyone should do, no matter what age. Teasdale also thinks that people should appreciate the simple things instead of trying to buy happiness. The rhyme sceme that she uses is ABCBDD AEFEGG HIJIKK
Life has loveliness to sell,
All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff,
Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And children's faces looking up
Holding wonder like a cup.
Life has loveliness to sell,
Music like a curve of gold,
Scent of pine trees in the rain,
Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit's still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.
Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be.
- Do you agree with the last two lines of the poem? Why or why not?
- What is the extended metaphor?