"Acquainted With The Night" by Robert Frost (poetry reading)

There's a reasonable analysis here:
http://www.helium.com/items/693796-poetry-analysis-acquainted-with-the-night-...

"Salthouse Docks, Liverpool" and "Night-time" were both Victorian paintings by John Atkinson Grimshaw. I altered the last one a little to fit the format - here's the original:
http://tinyurl.com/ydvbeov



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,
O luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.
I have been one acquainted with the night.

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Tags:

• Acquainted
• With
• The
• Night
• Robert
• Frost

[MrsMoonshine8]

I thought it was "And further still at an unearthly height, a luminary clock against the sky proclaimed [...]

[SpokenVerse]

@MrsMoonshine8 There's only one syllable difference - a search find both versions. Actually "one luminary clock" gets more hits - and makes more sense.

[meesterschilders]

beautifull combination with Atkinson Grimshaw... placed into my playlist of the artist, thanks

[SpokenVerse]

Thank you. I had better confess that I photoshopped the last painting a little to fit the format.

[bmoneydestroyer]

great poem. im a little wary of the linked analysis. sometimes its nice to be pointed in a suggested direction, and sometimes there is probably only one true interpretation based on the circumstance of the poets then present life. But like the author of the analysis said, this poem is wide open to interpretation from numerous approaches. take it where you want and enjoy it.

[SpokenVerse]

Actually I agree. I avoid analysis of poems believing that they are what they are and mean different things to different people. The notes I make are usually just informative, facetious or provocative.

At the same time I know that poems are often inflicted on students who have to turn in something they have written about them...

[MrsMoonshine8]

@SpokenVerse

I'd probably better have written "a luminary clock", indeed. But I wanted to show that the "a luminary clock" would fit the sentence more, grammatically, than "o luminary clock": that's why I wrote the rest, for context. And I agree with "one luminary clock"; I wonder how the writer himself thought about it, what his original idea was, etc. He must've had multiple versions of the poem or a part of it, as most writers.

[Evaspie]

his voice makes me sleepy (not that it's a bad thing)

[conorbolger12345]

antagonising mute might have a heartfelt pity on the boy - but a stage it is.

just a small but momentous fall back to reality

"Go and enjoy yourself",Oh i'll have plenty of company of course, the people i 'chat with' though will wonder,

As for I, I know too well,

no more falling,

this bottomless pit does have an end ,

and here i've gone beyond dreaming

[conorbolger12345]

frost inspired me to write my first poem:  'Just give him our regards'

A birthday They say,

a 'joyous' occasion that on this day a boy is a man,

his voice will Deepen, his shoulders will Seperate evan more.

A landmark that distances the men from the boys.

The stage is set, the boys,cracking the jokes,havin' the banter, but one stands out,

a man though boy at heart overwhelmed by the attention he hungared for,

that a relief from the (continous next comment)

[thissong4you]

Too beautiful. I enjoyed your analysis link, as well. I'm not put off by analysis, I like considering others' views and interpretations, even those with which I disagree. I remain capable of forming my own. There's little more I wish of a poem than that it lend itself to multiple interpretations and many readings. Perhaps someone to read it aloud to me perfectly? Wish fulfilled. Thank you again.

[keytoothed]

You have a really beautiful voice that captures the ambiguity between the opposites Frost is playing upon, unstressing where some would have stressed. It's always a pleasure to listen to you. I'm so happy I found your channel.