The Only News I Know

The primary theme of Dickinson’s “The Only News I know” is the isolation resulting from her self-imposed seclusion. Dickinson notes that she has limited access to news and information about her world, save for the news she receives from “Immortality” (Line 3) or about eternal things. Similarly, she does not see any “Shows” (Line 4) at the theater since she does not leave her home or traverse any street except the street of her own “Existence” (Line 9). Finally, Dickinson acknowledges her lack of companions. She states, “The Only One I meet / Is God” (Lines 7-8). Having consciously chosen a reclusive lifestyle, Dickinson portrays herself throughout the poem as someone utterly devoid of human interaction and knowledge about the outside world.

However, rather than portray such isolation as a source of mental anguish and suffering, Dickinson never passes judgment on her experiences. Within “The Only News I know,” there are no indications that Dickinson is anything but at peace with her social situation. In the final stanza, she informs her audience, referred to as “You” (Line 12), that she will tell them if she discovers any “Other News” (Line 10) or “Admirable Show” after her death.