The Times by William Matthews

The news? I crumpled all of it that fit under a ziggurat of logs and scree of kindling, and lit it. Smoke rose and ashes fell like dandruff. The children of the rich are marrying each other. On any given day the winning team has won. It takes three years to run the first time for president and then four more to pry him out, the parasite, and every day we pay to read about it. You know that gray film that ink and newsprint slur on your hands? It’s smoke. Read the obituaries: read ‘em and weep. From “Blues If You Want” (Houghton Mifflin: $14.95, cloth; 0-395-51755-9; $8.95, paper; 0-395-51756-7; 72 pp.). 1989 William Matthews. Matthews is professor of English at City College of the City University of New York. This is his eighth published volume of poetry. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin.

Matthews is professor of English at City College of the City University of New York.