Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Watching" by Wanda Coleman is a richly layered poem that immerses readers in a vivid tableau of domestic life, juxtaposing the mundane with the profound, and the living with the dead. Through a series of carefully crafted images and scenes, Coleman explores themes of loneliness, longing, and the spectral presence of the past in the everyday. The poem captures a moment that is both intensely personal and universally recognizable, reflecting on the ways in which we seek connection and distraction in the face of existential solitude.

The repetition of "the television, on" serves as a refrain throughout the poem, anchoring the narrative in the glow of the TV screen—a constant, flickering presence that offers a window into "fantastic world[s]" far removed from the protagonist's reality. This device not only underscores the central role of television in shaping the landscape of modern solitude but also highlights its function as a companion and escape for those seeking to fill the silence of their lives.

The imagery of the "tv tray by the bedstead, plate of food" with its "fish odor rising and blue cheese dressing" evokes a sense of immediacy and sensory detail that contrasts with the fantastical images on the screen. This juxtaposition of the ordinary and the extraordinary mirrors the internal landscape of the speaker, navigating between the realities of her life and the stories unfolding on the television.

The poem masterfully weaves together the sounds and smells of the apartment—"the curling upward of smoke," "squeals of laughter" from the kids, the "raucous" ticking of the clock, and the "boom boom boom bass sound" from below—with the visual imagery of television and the night sky. These elements create a rich tapestry of life within the confines of the protagonist's home, a world that is at once vibrant and suffocating.

The mention of a book lying "face down beside me" introduces an unexplored alternative to the television, suggesting paths not taken and words left unread. This detail adds a layer of introspection to the poem, hinting at the intellectual and emotional nourishment that remains just out of reach, much like the elusive "sleep" that "runs away every time i reach for it."

The revelation that the protagonist shares her bed with a corpse "32 years dead" is a startling and haunting image that transforms the domestic scene into something altogether more profound and unsettling. This presence, which "shows no sign of life" yet still watches television with "one eye," serves as a powerful metaphor for the ways in which grief, memory, and loss linger in the physical spaces we inhabit, shaping our interactions with the living and the dead.

"Watching" is a poignant meditation on the human condition, delving into the complexities of solitude, memory, and the search for meaning in a world filled with distractions. Coleman's evocative language and vivid imagery invite readers to reflect on their own experiences of loneliness and the ghosts that occupy the margins of our lives, asking us to consider the ways in which we connect with the world and with each other.

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