Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Problems of a Journalist" by Weldon Kees is a contemplative and somewhat cynical reflection on the life of journalists, particularly those working in high-pressure environments. The poem juxtaposes their longing for intellectual escape with the stark realities of their demanding careers.

The poem opens with a desire for retreat and intellectual engagement: "I want to get away somewhere and re-read Proust," said an editor of Fortune to a man on Time. This yearning to re-read Proust, a writer synonymous with deep, reflective literature, signifies a wish to escape the hectic, perhaps superficial world of journalism for something more meaningful and profound. The mention of Proust sets a tone of introspection and nostalgia.

The scene shifts quickly, though, as "the fire roared and died, the phoenix quacked like a goose." The fire, often a symbol of inspiration and warmth, is extinguished, and the majestic phoenix, a symbol of rebirth, is reduced to a mundane goose. This transformation suggests the collapse of grand ideals into mundane reality, highlighting the discrepancy between aspirations and the everyday grind.

Kees paints a bleak picture of the roads leading away from the suburbs, "fraying like shawls outside the dusk of suburbs." The metaphor of fraying shawls evokes a sense of decay and the unraveling of paths that were once clear, symbolizing the difficulty of escaping the routine and finding solace. The image of "mile-high windows" framing dreams with witnesses adds a layer of surveillance and pressure, suggesting that the dreams of these journalists are constantly scrutinized and judged.

The poem continues to explore the theme of escape and longing: "You taste, fantast and epicure, the names of towns along the coast, / Black roadsters throbbing on the highways blue with rain / Toward one lamp, burning on those sentences." The sensory details of tasting names of towns and the throbbing of roadsters convey a deep desire for exploration and freedom. The single lamp burning on sentences symbolizes a solitary beacon of hope or inspiration amidst the relentless pursuit of deadlines and news stories.

Repetition of the longing to read Proust appears again: "I want to get away somewhere and re-read Proust," said an editor of Newsweek to a man on Look. This repetition emphasizes the shared sentiment among journalists from different publications. Their longing is universal, cutting across the competitive boundaries of their professions.

Kees further describes their working environments as "Dachaus with telephones, Siberias with bonuses," comparing their offices to concentration camps and exile. These stark comparisons underscore the intense pressure, isolation, and perhaps the moral compromises inherent in their work. The contrast between receiving bonuses and the reference to Siberia suggests a paradox where material rewards cannot compensate for the spiritual and emotional toll of their jobs.

The poem concludes with a scene of mundane routine: "One reads, as winter settles on the town, / The evening paper, in an Irving Place café." This final image captures the journalist engaged in the very act of consuming the news, underscoring the cyclical nature of their work. The settling winter and the setting of the café evoke a sense of coldness and detachment, mirroring the earlier themes of longing for warmth and intellectual fulfillment.

"Problems of a Journalist" by Weldon Kees poignantly captures the existential struggle of journalists caught between the demands of their profession and their yearning for deeper, more meaningful experiences. Through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Kees paints a picture of a profession that, despite its outward glamour, often leaves its practitioners feeling trapped and disillusioned.

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