Sara Teasdale’s “Barter” imagines life as a seller offering loveliness in exchange for everything a person has. The speaker lists things worth wanting: waves breaking white against cliffs, fire, children’s wondering faces, music, rain-scented pines, love, and quiet holy thoughts. These images are simple but rich, drawn from nature, affection, and stillness. The speaker’s feeling is one of intense appreciation, even urgency. She insists that beauty is worth any sacrifice—years of struggle lost for one peaceful hour, a breath of ecstasy in return for all you have been or could be. The mood is tender and elevated, but also quietly persuasive, as if the speaker is reminding us not to hold back. The poem treats loveliness not as a luxury but as the thing most worth paying for with a whole life.
Barter — Summary
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.