The unnamed narrator of the poem is a quiet observer who sits physically and emotionally apart from the noisy working-class patrons in a bar. They seek refuge from the cold winter and the chaos of the outside world. They find their ultimate comfort and contentment in the silent, intimate presence of their romantic partner.

A young man who arrives at the bar to meet the speaker. He brings a sense of innocence and vital energy that differs from the world-weary workmen nearby. Valuing physical closeness and quiet companionship, he sits near his partner without feeling the need to speak. His quiet presence provides emotional warmth against the bleak winter night.

A group of working-class men decompressing after a long day of physical labor. They engage in loud, boisterous behavior, which includes drinking, swearing, and sharing jokes. Gathered closely around the bar's stove, they represent a communal, public form of human connection that serves to ward off the harshness of the winter weather.