Selecting A Reader - A poem by Ted Kooser

Ted Kooser - Selecting A Reader

First, I would have her be beautiful,
and walking carefully up on my poetry
at the loneliest moment of an afternoon,
her hair still damp at the neck
from washing it. She should be wearing
a raincoat, an old one, dirty
from not having money enough for the cleaners.
She will take out her glasses, and there
in the bookstore, she will thumb
over my poems, then put the book back
up on its shelf. She will say to herself,
"For that kind of money, I can get
my raincoat cleaned." And she will.

Added: on September 25th, 2005 at 3:50 PM | Viewed: 1337 times | Comments and analysis of Selecting A Reader by Ted Kooser Comments (3)

Selecting A Reader - Comments and Information
Poet: Ted Kooser Poem: Selecting A Reader Volume: Sure Signs Year: Published/Written in 1980 Comment 3 of 3, added on June 17th, 2008 at 2:15 AM. Who would want a woman like that reading their poems? lol. Sounds like a bimbo - that they would think of cleaning their raincoat over poems, but then I realize that we are talking about Ted Kooser's poems here. ea Comment 2 of 3, added on June 18th, 2006 at 11:37 AM. Ted Kooser always expressed simplicity in his work, so I'm supposing that it's not too metaphoric in what he's trying to say. Maybe he really is saying that a person with not enough money to even wash their raincoat should focus on that neccessity over purchasing his poem. It could be more but I don't see anything that lends itself into metaphor. Benjamin Comment 1 of 3, added on September 25th, 2005 at 3:50 PM. It was interesting for me to note that Ted Kooser's "ideal" reader is one who chooses to not even purchase his poetry, but rather spend her money on more practical things. I'm having a hard time deciding for myself if Kooser is speaking in metaphor or symbolism, or if he is being literal in his remarks that his perfect reader wouldn't even bother to read his work. Does anyone have any additional comments on this? Joshua from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Selecting A Reader, has received 3 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Ted Kooser with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Ted Kooser Poem: Selecting A Reader Volume: Sure Signs Year: Published/Written in 1980 Last read: Jul 8 2008, 6:59PM Viewed 1337 times. Added on September 25th, 2005 at 3:50 PM.

Kooser Info
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