The speaker is a Black man writing an anti-suicide note to his mother out of a profound fear of police violence. He acutely feels the threat of systemic brutality and refuses to let a potential murder be framed as a suicide. He asserts his autonomy by preemptively declaring the truth of his fate, valuing his human dignity over false narratives.

The mother is the speaker's primary caretaker and emotional anchor. She represents safety and maternal love, having once tucked him in with clean sheets. The speaker addresses the poem directly to her so she will know the truth and reject any financial settlements from the city.

An unnamed officer of the law who represents the systemic threat of police brutality against Black citizens. The officer is depicted as lacking basic human decency and respect for life, operating without the spiritual reverence expected by society. The speaker fears this figure will kill him and cover up the murder.

The maggots are natural scavengers of dead flesh that inhabit the space beneath the speaker's home. Though their biological imperative to consume carcasses is gruesome, they simply follow their nature without malice. Because of their predictability, the speaker trusts them more than corrupt human authorities.

A hypothetical reverend or holy man referenced by the speaker. He represents traditional respect for the dead, performing gentle rituals like shutting a deceased person's eyes. This respectful behavior contrasts with the actions of corrupt authorities.