The Bargain
The Bargain - meaning Summary
Everlasting Bargain's Catch
Ogden Nash's short poem recounts a comic encounter in which the speaker buys seven "lives" from a peddler, believing he has secured lasting happiness. The narrative voice treats immortality like a bargain but ends on a wry twist: the seller's final line reframes "forever" as a problematic, ongoing condition. The poem satirically compresses apprehension about permanence into a light, memorable epigrammatic vignette.
Read Complete AnalysesAs I was going to St. Ives I met a man with seven lives; Seven lives, In seven sacks, Like seven beeves On seven racks. These seven lives He offered to sell, But which was best He couldn't tell. He swore with any I'd be happy forever; I bought all seven And thought I was clever, But his parting words I can't forget: Forever Isn't over yet.
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