Barter

Welcome, everyone, to a delightful exploration of one of poetry’s most enchanting invitations to life. Today, we delve into Sara Teasdale’s “Barter,” a poem that reminds us of the incredible beauty surrounding us and the profound value of truly experiencing it. Prepare to open your minds and hearts to a world of wonder, as we uncover the timeless wisdom held within these beautiful lines.

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.

Barter Summary: Embracing Life’s Priceless Joys

Sara Teasdale’s “Barter” is a vibrant and optimistic poem that celebrates the abundant beauty and joy available in life. At its heart, the poem presents a powerful central idea: life offers countless moments of profound loveliness, and we should eagerly “buy” these experiences with all our being, regardless of the personal cost. It is a passionate call to prioritize emotional and spiritual richness over material gain or even personal comfort.

The poem unfolds in three stanzas, each building upon the central metaphor of life as a merchant. The first two stanzas list a cascade of beautiful, sensory experiences, from the grandeur of nature to the warmth of human connection. These are the “loveliness” that life has “to sell.” The final stanza then shifts to an urgent exhortation, urging the reader to “spend all you have for loveliness” and to consider any sacrifice worthwhile for even a fleeting moment of peace or ecstasy. “Barter” is a noteworthy poem for its lyrical quality, its vivid imagery, and its enduring message about living a life filled with appreciation and wonder.

Barter Analysis: Unpacking the Poem’s Richness

The Core Metaphor: Life as a Generous Merchant

The poem immediately establishes its central metaphor in the opening line:

Life has loveliness to sell,

This powerful image transforms life from a passive existence into an active vendor, offering precious goods. However, these goods are not material possessions; they are “loveliness,” encompassing “All beautiful and splendid things.” This metaphor sets the stage for a transaction, but one where the currency is not money, but rather our attention, our passion, and ultimately, our very selves. The poem encourages us to be eager customers, ready to invest deeply in these invaluable experiences.

Vivid Imagery and Sensory Details in “Barter”

Teasdale masterfully employs rich imagery and sensory details to make the “loveliness” palpable to the reader. The poem appeals to multiple senses, creating a vibrant tapestry of experiences:

• Sight: We see the dynamic power of nature in
  

  Blue waves whitened on a cliff,

  and the innocent curiosity in

  children’s faces looking up
  Holding wonder like a cup.

• Sound: The poem evokes auditory beauty with
  

  Soaring fire that sways and sings,

  and

  Music like a curve of gold,

  The fire is not just seen, but heard, and the music is not just heard, but given a visual, precious quality.

• Smell: The evocative line
  

  Scent of pine trees in the rain,

  transports us to a specific, refreshing moment, engaging our olfactory sense.

• Touch/Emotion: Human connection is beautifully captured with
  

  Eyes that love you, arms that hold,

  conveying warmth, security, and affection.

This sensory richness ensures that the reader doesn’t just understand the concept of loveliness, but truly feels and imagines it, making the poem’s message deeply resonant.

Literary Devices in “Barter”: Crafting Meaning and Beauty

Teasdale skillfully uses several literary devices to enhance the poem’s impact and convey its profound message.

• Metaphor: As discussed, the overarching metaphor of “Life has loveliness to sell” is fundamental. It frames our existence as an opportunity for exchange, where joy is the ultimate commodity.
• Simile: Comparisons using “like” or “as” create vivid connections.

  • Holding wonder like a cup.

    This simile suggests that wonder is a precious liquid, something to be carefully held, savored, and drunk from, emphasizing its delicate and valuable nature.

  • Music like a curve of gold,

    Here, music is compared to something both beautiful in form (“curve”) and precious in material (“gold”), elevating its value and suggesting its exquisite quality.

• Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas brings them to life.

  • Soaring fire that sways and sings,

    The fire is personified with the actions of “sways and sings,” making it seem alive, graceful, and even joyful, much like a dancer or a singer.

  • “Life” itself is personified as a merchant, capable of “selling.”
• Repetition/Refrain: The line
  

  Life has loveliness to sell,

  is repeated at the beginning of the first two stanzas. This refrain acts as a gentle reminder of the poem’s core premise, reinforcing the idea that beauty is constantly available to us. It also creates a rhythmic, almost song-like quality, enhancing the poem’s musicality.

Poetic Devices in “Barter”: Sound, Structure, and Flow

Beyond literary devices, Teasdale employs various poetic devices to shape the poem’s form and musicality.

• Rhyme Scheme: The poem generally follows an AABBCC rhyme scheme within each stanza (e.g., “sell”/”splendid things” is not a perfect rhyme, but “cliff”/”sings” and “up”/”cup” are). This consistent, gentle rhyme scheme contributes to the poem’s lyrical and accessible feel, making it pleasant to read and hear.
• Rhythm and Meter: While not strictly adhering to a formal meter, the lines generally maintain a consistent rhythm, often with four stressed syllables per line, giving the poem a steady, flowing pace. This contributes to its “singing” quality.
• Enjambment: The use of enjambment, where a sentence or phrase continues from one line to the next without a pause, creates a sense of continuous flow and urgency. For example,
  

  And children’s faces looking up
  Holding wonder like a cup.

  The thought flows seamlessly, drawing the reader along.

• Alliteration and Assonance: Teasdale uses subtle sound devices to enhance the poem’s musicality. For instance, the repeated “s” sound in “Soaring fire that sways and sings” is an example of alliteration, while the repeated vowel sounds in “blue waves whitened” (assonance) add to the poem’s sonic texture.

The Powerful Call to Action: The Final Stanza

The third and final stanza marks a significant shift from description to direct command, acting as the poem’s powerful conclusion and ultimate message. Teasdale moves from listing life’s offerings to urging the reader to act:

Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;

This is not a call for reckless spending of money, but a profound directive to invest our entire being, our time, our energy, and our very essence into pursuing moments of beauty and joy. The phrase “never count the cost” emphasizes that these experiences are beyond monetary value and that any sacrifice is justified for their acquisition.

The poem then provides a compelling justification for this radical investment:

For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,

Here, Teasdale suggests that even a brief, perfect moment of peace can outweigh years of struggle and hardship. The “strife” is considered “well lost” if it leads to such profound tranquility. This highlights the immense, disproportionate value of spiritual and emotional fulfillment.

The poem culminates with its most radical and moving lines:

And for a breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be.

This is the ultimate “barter.” For a single, intense moment of pure joy or “ecstasy,” the poem asks us to surrender everything: our past experiences, our identity, and even our future potential. It is a testament to the supreme importance of living fully in the present and valuing intense, beautiful experiences above all else. This powerful ending leaves the reader with an unforgettable message about the true treasures of life.

Embrace the Loveliness: A Timeless Message

Sara Teasdale’s “Barter” remains a cherished poem for its profound simplicity and its uplifting message. It is a lyrical reminder that life is not merely a series of events to endure, but a vibrant marketplace brimming with “beautiful and splendid things.” Through its vivid imagery, compelling metaphors, and urgent call to action, the poem encourages us to open our eyes, hearts, and souls to the wonders around us. It teaches us to value moments of peace, joy, and connection above all else, urging us to “spend all you have for loveliness” and to never regret the cost. This timeless poem continues to inspire readers to live a life rich in experience, appreciation, and profound, unadulterated joy.