BARTER : BY Sara Teasdale

Barter-By: Sara Teasdale

Sara Teasdale (1884 - 1933)

Sara Teasdale (August 8, 1884 - January 29, 1933), was an American lyrical poet. She was born Sarah Trevor Teasdale in St. Louis, Missouri.

Sara's major themes were love, nature's beauty, and death, and her poems were much loved during the early 20th century. In 1918 she won the Columbia University Poetry Society prize (the forerunner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry) and the annual prize of the Poetry Society of America for her volume, Love Songs. Her style and lyricism are well illustrated in her poem, Spring Night (1915), from that collection.

BARTER

BY SARA TEASDALE

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.

Theme:

Here there is a reacurring theme of appreciation for the small beautiful things in life, and the fact that these things are priceless and bring meaning to our lives.

This poem conveys that the joys in life do outweigh the sorrows. There is much more to live for when sorrow overcomes you; try not to be overwhelmed by this, but do try to convince yourself that the happiness will always overcome the sorrows.

The speaker tells us “life has loveliness to sell.” Indeed this is true. All around us are wonders on the world. From the simplest flower to the most magnificent tree, nature has create many “…beautiful and splendid things.” The speaker mentions the “blue waves whitened on a cliff,” the “scent of pine trees in the rain” and the “soaring fire that sways and sings.” When speaking of the fire, human qualities are given to it, because he/she describes it as rhythmically moving and singing. Imagery is put into our minds and personification is used. By doing this, the speaker could be trying to treat Mother Nature with more care, the care we would give another living person.

The speaker continues with the loveliness of “…children's faces looking up.” By using children as an example, the speaker is able to establish the purity and innocence of youth. In their eyes, “they hold wonder like a cup.” This wonder could refer back to the amazement they have for the Earth’s “…beautiful and splendid things.”

Prior to the third stanza, the tone of the poem has a nice, smooth touch to it. It is warm, gentle, and soothing to the soul. It is nostalgic, loving , and hopeful.

Analysis

Then, the poem takes on a different voice. It becomes assertive and persuasive. The speaker wishes us to “spend all we have for loveliness.”

Analysis

Perhaps she believes modern society is taking nature for granted and becoming too reliant on technology and money. This idea continues with the speaker telling readers to “buy it and never count the cost.”

1.Funny

2.Cool

3.Interesting

4.Nostalgic

5.Improbable

1.Scam

2.Destiny

3.Life is a gamble

4.Dreaming

5.Trader

Discussion Questions

1.What is the tone of the third stanza?

2.What would be a better title for this poem?

3.In this poem the author uses images EXCEPT for.....?

1.Children

2.Pizza

3.Waves

4.Trees

5.Rain

!FIN!

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Analysis

Biography

Analysis

Analysis