Selecting a Reader

The theme of money is one that moves the narrative of Kooser’s poem forward. The woman has not yet prioritized laundering her dirty coat, and a lack of funds may explain in part her reluctance to buy the speaker’s book. At the same time, the woman is not entirely destitute. She has the funds to get her “raincoat cleaned” and, as Kooser says, “she will” (Line 13).

The woman’s lack of wealth sets up the poem’s conclusion and creates an epiphany for the reader, both the woman reader in the poem and the actual reader of Kooser’s poem. The book's price tag helps the woman realize that some things are worth paying for, like a clean raincoat. By weighing up the value of the book, the woman is able to figure out that she does actually have the resources to clean her coat, and, consequently, she will do just that.

The time at which the poet wrote the poem further defines the theme of money and wealth. Kooser published the poem in 1980. As noted in the Historical Context section of the guide, the 1980s mark a time in American history when the economies of the Midwestern states were in flux, impacting the residents of these states and their financial stability.