Darkness (Symbol)
As he does in other poems, Creeley includes darkness as a symbol in "I Know a Man." In the second stanza of the poem the speaker states, "the darkness sur-/rounds us." He does not directly state what this darkness is, though it is traditionally symbolic of fear, evil, and the unknown. It has an element of encroaching or encompassing, as it surrounds the speaker and his friend. Whatever it is, the speaker suggests that it must be opposed. He wonders "what / can we do against / it." This implies that the darkness is a kind of oppressive force that must be reacted against. In this regard, darkness functions as a symbol for all of the ills in the world, too numerous for the speaker even to name specifically.
The Big Car (Symbol)
When asking about how to deal with "the darkness," the speaker wonders if he should "buy a goddam big car." The car is symbolic of commercialism and excess. It is reminiscent of the concept of "retail therapy" in which one buys goods in order to make themselves feel better and stave off "the darkness." The automobile is also often associated with the traditional conception of the "American Dream," being closely intertwined with success and material things. At the same time, it evokes a sense of escape. Having a car offers one mobility, or as the friend states, the simple ability just to get up and "drive," as his friend suggests.
