Read the poem.

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.

Question - What is the meaning of the poem?

Question

Read the poem.

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.

Question - What is the meaning of the poem?

bill533 · Answer

@SmokeyBrown

SmokeyBrown · Answer

The poem seems to be about how the author thinks life should be lived. "Barter" roughly means "to trade", and the thing being traded is "loveliness". What do you think about the author's values from the poem?

bill533 · Answer

well i think imagery is the most important value in the poem because it would draw the readers to live in the fictional experience.

SmokeyBrown · Answer

Yeah, I agree. The author puts a lot of emphasis on beautiful imagery. Does the author say anything about how one should react to or strive for that kind of imagery?

bill533 · Answer

in part of the story he showed they should react to that kind of imagery

bill533 · Answer

is that right

SmokeyBrown · Answer

Yeah, I guess that's not wrong. But maybe your answer should be more detailed

bill533 · Answer

Yes because Imagery uses figurative language to represent objects, actions and ideas in such a way and helps to be realistic that would turn out to be more complex than just a picture itself, for example: "the soaring fire that sways and sings" and "music like a curve of gold" known as Audiotory imagery.

bill533 · Answer

and  “Blue waves whitened on a cliff” uses visual imagery of color.

SmokeyBrown · Answer

Yeah, what you said is true. In addition, the author talks about the sacrifices that people should make in order to experience this kind of imagery, and what those experiences are really worth