Acquainted With the Night

Acquainted with the Night

By Robert Frost

I have been one acquainted with the night.

I have walked out in rain—and back in rain.

I have outwalked the furthest city light.

I have looked down the saddest city lane.

I have passed by the watchman on his beat

And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet

When far away an interrupted cry

Came over houses from another street,

But not to call me back or say good-bye;

And further still at an unearthly height,

One luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.

I have been one acquainted with the night.

Summary of the Poem

In "Acquainted with the Night" Frost gives the picture of the night as an entity with which he is familiar. The title itself is an unusual phrase, he is talking about his acquaintance with "night," as if "night" is considered a close friend. There is personification here, Frost is showing "night" as a person. However in this poem, "night" is not someone intimate, it is just a familiar aspect of his life, and thus it appears that night symbolizes more than just loneliness. "Night" could also represent the poet's inner self, a self that he is acquainted to but does not know well. The poet's journey into the night, could be seen as the poet trying to have more self-knowledge.