Can someone explain what this poem means?

Question

One of my favorite bands sings a song that references to it, so I looked it up with these results. I never, ever read poetry, so if someone could explain what this means, that would be awseome.

Danse Russe
by William Carlos Williams

If I when my wife is sleeping
and the baby and Kathleen
are sleeping
and the sun is a flame-white disc
in silken mists
above shining trees,—
if I in my north room
dance naked, grotesquely
before my mirror
waving my shirt round my head
and singing softly to myself:
"I am lonely, lonely.
I was born to be lonely,
I am best so!"
If I admire my arms, my face,
my shoulders, flanks, buttocks
against the yellow drawn shades,—
Who shall say I am not
the happy genius of my household?

Answer 1

There is strong suggestion of conflict between the family man and the artist. This is a recurring theme amongst artists of all kind. How to reconcile the needs of a family, a wife, children, the material as well as the emotional needs for stability with the needs of the artist. The artist sees himself in the vanguard, needing to be free for whatever muse comes along, free to move physically and emotionally. Also, the artist may need to have a solitary, even selfish life in order to devote himself to his art. In the lines, 'I am lonley...I am best so', this is not a complaint, but a recognition that he was 'born to be lonely'. So if he is encumbered with family, is he living the life he feels he was born to live? If he is only a 'happy genius' when his family is asleep, how will reconcile the two sides of his life?

Answer 2

i believe its about being trapped inside a marriage.
it is trying to love somebody , when you dont know if you have loved yourself quite enough,
it is a poem about the real feelings and emotions felt by us
it even speaks of him wanting to have another experience with another woman
it speaks of the freedom he has lost, since he got married

Answer 3

it's about appearances and how on the surface all seems normal but deep inside the poet is very lonely.