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Barter | Poem

 


Sara Teasdale

BARTER

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. 


Sara Teasdale was born in St. Louis, Missouri
on August 8, 1884 and died on January 29, 1933.