Robert Creeley's, "I Know a Man"

I chose this poem because I felt that it had a unique tone. It sounds like the speaker is a bit of a nervous, stammering wreck. The speaker is very vague and that type of vagueness gives us nothing to hold onto as readers. I think it's odd that he doesn't know his friends name and that he says he is always talking. The title of the poem is "I Know a Man," but how can you know someone if you a. don't know the persons name and b. you're always constantly talking. Sometimes getting to know someone is about listening.

The dialogue he is having with his friend could be seen as him having to either look to the future (i.e. buying that car) or keeping in mind that he needs to focus on the present (i.e. look out where you're going) Another thing is that the speaker might want to continue driving in order to not have to face what is going on in the present. Perhaps his constant driving is a journey to escape whatever it is that makes him a nervous wreck.

Discussion Question: Why do you think the Creeley wrote this particular poem in this manner? Why does the speaker narrate his life in such a way?