Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "The News," William Matthews reflects on the pervasive presence of news media and its subtle influence on everyday life. The poem opens with a description of a neighborhood scene, where "the blue light of the news" emanates from each house on the street. This image captures the commonality of watching television news, suggesting a shared experience that connects individuals within their private spaces. The blue light symbolizes the cold, distant glow of electronic media, casting a uniform hue over the neighborhood.

The mention of "someone's dog whirps three times / and scuffs the leaves" introduces a touch of natural, spontaneous life, contrasting with the artificial, structured nature of the news broadcast. This small detail adds a sense of real-world interruption to the otherwise insulated and detached atmosphere created by the glow of television screens.

The poem situates this scene on "a school night," emphasizing a time typically associated with routine, preparation, and quietness. The President and his aides are described as occupying "one end of the news," while "parents" occupy the other, metaphorically framing the spectrum of authority and domestic life. This juxtaposition suggests that news broadcasts, which often include political and societal events, are distant from the everyday concerns of the average family, yet they coexist within the same space.

Matthews uses irony to comment on the content of the news, stating, "The news for today / is tape recordings / of dry ice, sports / for today is weather." This line implies a sense of triviality or absurdity in the way news is presented, equating it with mundane or inconsequential details. The news becomes a ritualistic background noise, much like weather reports or sports scores, which often serve to fill time rather than convey meaningful information.

As the lights from the televisions "go back into the walls," the imagery suggests a retreat or withdrawal into the safety and isolation of private spaces. The poet reflects that "These might as well be / my neighbors," indicating a sense of anonymity and detachment between people, despite their physical proximity. The phrase "The news / uses us all to travel by" further critiques the passive consumption of media, suggesting that individuals are mere vessels through which information passes, rather than active participants in interpreting or engaging with the content.

The speaker then imagines themselves as "one / of their children, bees / sleeping the treaty of honey." This metaphor likens the passivity of watching the news to the dormancy of bees, who are collectively bound by a "treaty of honey" — a natural, instinctual agreement to work together. It evokes a sense of communal slumber or inactivity, where people are lulled into a passive state by the daily routine of news consumption.

The poem concludes with a personal reflection: "The news will find me soon / enough. I veer between / two of their houses / home through the woods." This ending suggests a deliberate choice to step away from the mediated world of news and its influence, opting instead for a more direct, unfiltered experience of the world. The path "through the woods" symbolizes a return to nature and perhaps a desire for authenticity or escape from the constructed realities presented by the news media.

"The News" by William Matthews offers a contemplative critique of the way news media infiltrates daily life, highlighting the passive role individuals often play in consuming information. Through vivid imagery and subtle metaphor, the poem explores themes of detachment, routine, and the search for genuine experience amidst a landscape dominated by the pervasive influence of media. The poet ultimately suggests a yearning for something beyond the artificial and mundane, hinting at the possibility of finding clarity and meaning outside the confines of societal norms and expectations.

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