" It is difficult to get the news from poetry, yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is found there." - William Carlos Williams

This quote means that when people do not read poetry, they are starving themselves from the creative messages that are imbedded in poetry. They are metaphorically  dying by not understanding the messages in poetry or reading poetry at all.  Poets provide insight on different topics in our society. The author of this quotation feels we cannot live without these insightful messages.