Question

why does the poet say that money is external​

Answer 1

Answer:

By the phrase “money is external”, the poet means that it can buy world and worldly/materialistic things. However it cannot buy emotions, attachment, love, childhood etc. Once these things are lost, they are lost forever and will never come back.

In reference to the poem, the child had a strong attachment with the lost ball but the attachment with the new ball was not very strong.

Answer 2

In the poem, 'money is external' means that money can only buy all worldly or materialistic things. The poet wants to say that it cannot buy emotions, attachment, love, childhood etc. Once these things are lost, they are lost forever and they never come back.