“Its deserted streets are a powerful symbol of the indifference of man and nature towards the individual. The narrator's insistence on his own identity is in part an act of defiance against a built and industrial world that has no place for him in its order” (Bolton). As the poem continues, the narrator becomes aware of his own consciousness as he faces nature and society during his walk. He embraces nature with rain, darkness, and the moon, but also reinforces his alienation from society as he ignores the guardian and is given no hope of crying for him. Social ignorance reinforces our belief that it is alone in this dark night. “When meeting a night watchman, another passer-by in the city with whom the speaker might conceivably have some connection, he confesses: 'I… lowered my eyes, not wanting to explain.' Likewise, when he hears a voice in the distance, he stops, only to realize that the voice is not meant to "call me back or say hello" (Bolton). The two times he had a chance to interact with the community, he either showed no interest in speaking or the cry wasn't meant for him. These two interactions highlight his loneliness with