"Selecting a Reader"

In “Selecting a Reader,” Ted Kooser sets an earnest tone as he uses diction and symbolism to describe his ideal writing audience. The reader may be confused at first, because Kooser’s description of the perfect reader is actually someone who doesn’t end up buying his book. However, his word choice shows that this reader embodies many of the characteristics of his poems. She should be “beautiful” and take action “carefully,” just like his writing is both aesthetically pleasing and methodically created. But one of the most important elements of this reader is what she is wearing. Kooser specifically has her wearing glasses because she needs to see clearly, in a figurative sense in addition to a literal one. When she reads Kooser’s poems, she gains the clarity she needs to appreciate the simple things in life, like a clean raincoat. After “she will thumb over my poems,” she realizes that she has enough money to buy her own raincoat. And she not only think this to herself, but she takes action and goes off to buy it. This is what Kooser seeks to do with his writing. He wants to show the significance of the oft-overlooked details of life. Through his writing, he is able to achieve this and make the world a better place.