While "Acquainted with the Night" takes place in a city, the speaker walks beyond the furthest city light and interacts with elements like rain, the moon, and the sky. There's a contrast between the dark of the city beyond the lights and the brightness of the moon – the natural world shines beyond the lights of civilization.
Questions About Man and the Natural World
- Does the speaker like the city, or does he prefer being out of the city?
- How does the speaker contrast the world of humans with the natural world?
- What images of nature can you find in this poem?
- What images of the city are the most vivid in this poem?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
The speaker in this poem contrasts the city with the natural world by comparing the city lights to the light of the moon.
The speaker feels more isolated in the city than he would in the natural world.