Making Money: Drought Year in Minkler, California By Gary Soto - Giggle Poems

Original Poem：

“It’s a ’49,” Rhinehardt said, and slammed
The screen door, then worked his way around
The dog turds in the yard
To the Buick gutted from fire—the gears
Teething rust, the fenders sloped
Like the shoulders of a fired worker
Out of beer. He circled the car
Kicking the tires, eyeing
The grille that still grinned the ribbed wings
Of a sparrow. He looked inside and flies
Lifted like patted dust, settling
Into a loose knot on the visor.
“Yeh, you’re right as right ... it’s a ’50,”
Rhinehardt spat, his tongue rolling
A false tooth into place. “It’s got no
Running board.” He pressed a buck
Into his son’s hand and retired to the porch
Where he towel-flicked
His wife from a chair
And as evening came on watched beyond
The street, a kennel of trees,
Where—as he had dreamed—a plane would drop
And bloom fire. Two bucks on that one.

Poem Explanation and Analysis

This poem vividly portrays a moment in the life of Rhinehardt, a man who inspects an old, burned-out Buick car in a yard cluttered with dog droppings. The poem opens with Rhinehardt identifying the car as a ’49 model but then correcting himself to a ’50 after closer inspection. The imagery of the car is powerful: rusted gears, sloped fenders compared to the weary shoulders of a fired worker, and a grille resembling sparrow wings. The flies inside the car add a sense of decay and abandonment.

Rhinehardt’s interaction with the car is tinged with a mix of nostalgia, frustration, and perhaps a sense of loss. His false tooth and the act of pressing a dollar bill into his son’s hand hint at his rough, working-class background. The poem closes with a quiet domestic scene—Rhinehardt flicking a towel at his wife and watching the trees across the street, where he imagines a plane dropping fire, a surreal and haunting vision that contrasts with the mundane reality.

The poem explores themes of loss, memory, decay, and the passage of time. The car, once a symbol of pride and progress, now lies gutted and useless, much like the man’s own life circumstances. The imagery of the fired worker’s shoulders and the empty beer bottles evokes economic hardship and personal struggle.

Background and Author Introduction

Though the poem does not specify its author, the style and themes are reminiscent of mid-20th-century American poetry that focuses on working-class life and the American experience after World War II. The poem captures the gritty reality of everyday life, reflecting on the decline of industrial America and the personal toll it takes on individuals and families.

The author likely draws from personal or observed experiences of economic hardship, loss of employment, and the fading American Dream. The poem’s setting and details suggest a small-town or rural environment, where old cars and worn-out possessions tell stories of better times now gone.

Reflections and Impressions

Reading this poem evokes a sense of melancholy and empathy. Rhinehardt’s character feels real and relatable—a man caught between hope and resignation. The imagery is striking and layered with meaning, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences of change, loss, and memory.

The poem’s ending, with the imagined plane dropping fire, introduces a surreal, almost apocalyptic element that contrasts with the otherwise grounded narrative. It suggests that beneath everyday life lies a deeper tension or fear, perhaps of destruction or irreversible change.

Educational Value and Learning Points for Children and Students

This poem offers rich material for students to explore several important literary and life lessons:

• Imagery and Symbolism: Students can learn how poets use vivid images (like the rusted car, sparrow wings, and flies) to convey deeper meanings about life and emotions.
• Themes of Change and Loss: The poem provides a way to discuss how people cope with difficult changes, such as losing a job or facing economic hardship.
• Character Study: Rhinehardt’s actions and dialogue reveal his personality and background, helping students understand how characterization works in poetry.
• Historical and Social Context: The poem can be a starting point for discussing post-war America, industrial decline, and working-class struggles.
• Creative Imagination: The surreal image of the plane dropping fire encourages students to think about how poetry can blend reality and dreams or fears.

Practical Applications and Life Lessons

• Empathy and Understanding: Students can learn to empathize with people facing hardship, recognizing the dignity and complexity in everyday struggles.
• Observation Skills: The poem encourages careful observation of detail, useful in both literature and real-life situations.
• Expressing Emotions: It shows how poetry can be a powerful tool to express complex feelings like frustration, nostalgia, and hope.
• Critical Thinking: Analyzing the poem’s symbols and themes helps develop critical thinking and interpretive skills.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. What kind of car does Rhinehardt initially think he is looking at?
2. How does the poem describe the condition of the car?
3. What does the comparison of the fenders to the shoulders of a fired worker suggest?
4. What is the significance of Rhinehardt pressing a dollar bill into his son’s hand?
5. What does the image of the plane dropping fire symbolize in the poem?
6. How does the poem reflect themes of loss and change?
7. What can we infer about Rhinehardt’s character from his actions and speech?
8. Why do you think the poet included the detail about the flies inside the car?
9. How does the final scene on the porch contrast with the earlier description of the car?
10. What emotions does the poem evoke in you as a reader?

Answer Key

1. Rhinehardt initially thinks the car is a ’49 model.
2. The car is described as gutted from fire, rusty, with sloped fenders and flies inside, indicating it is old and abandoned.
3. The comparison suggests weariness, defeat, and hardship, much like a worker who has lost his job and is exhausted.
4. It shows Rhinehardt’s rough but caring nature, possibly symbolizing passing on responsibility or hope to his son.
5. The plane dropping fire symbolizes destruction, fear, or a dramatic change, contrasting with the quiet domestic scene.
6. The poem shows loss through the burned car and the man’s tired demeanor, highlighting the passage of time and changing circumstances.
7. Rhinehardt appears tough, practical, and somewhat resigned but also caring toward his family.
8. The flies emphasize decay and neglect, reinforcing the theme of deterioration.
9. The porch scene is calm and domestic, contrasting with the harsh, ruined car, showing different aspects of Rhinehardt’s life.
10. Answers will vary but may include feelings of sadness, empathy, nostalgia, or contemplation.

This poem provides a meaningful exploration of everyday struggles and the passage of time, making it a valuable resource for students to develop literary skills and emotional intelligence.