The speaker of the poem is a woman lingering in bed after a night of lovemaking. Defying the era's gender expectations of passivity, she assertively claims her physical desires and uses attorney-like logic to argue against parting. She views their connection as paramount and questions why the arrival of sunlight should force their separation.

A working-class lover who hurriedly dresses to attend to his daily responsibilities. He remains silent throughout the poem, prioritizing his routine over his partner's pleas to stay. His prompt departure highlights the tension between physical romance and practical, real-world duties.