The speaker, feeling overwhelmed by the constant influx of information and demands on their time, desperately seeks a place of peace and quiet. They lament the loss of privacy, a sanctuary for reflection and personal growth. The poem highlights the intrusion of "wireless" communication, newspapers, and even the intrusive "eye" of the camera, leaving the speaker feeling exposed and vulnerable.
The yearning for privacy is presented as a basic human need, essential for maintaining mental and emotional well-being. Service uses powerful imagery to convey the sense of being "walled in" and "hemmed in" by the relentless demands of modern life. He questions whether there is any true "privacy" left in this world and laments the impact of this loss on personal freedom and introspection.
The poem ultimately ends on a melancholic note, acknowledging the inevitability of the modern world's encroachment on individual privacy. While there may be no escape from this reality, Service reminds us of the enduring value of seeking moments of solitude, however fleeting they may be.