Ada is a contemporary poet living in Kentucky who draws deep inspiration from her Californian roots and Mexican American heritage. Processing the emotional aftermath of a difficult winter and personal struggles with infertility, she observes the natural world to understand her pain. She favors honest, vivid descriptions of life's dualities and refuses to mask genuine hurt with superficial positivity.

Kenneth is a schoolteacher and principal raising his family in the small towns of Northern California. He is of Mexican heritage, with his own father having crossed the border to escape the Mexican Revolution. He provides a supportive and stable environment for his children even after his marriage ends.

Stacia is an artist who lives in Northern California and raises her daughter with an appreciation for creative observation. Her artistic perspective heavily influences how her daughter eventually looks at the world. She works alongside her ex-husband to maintain a loving, normal childhood for their children.

Lucas is a horse racing reporter who shares a rural Kentucky home with his wife. He is a steady presence in her life during a period marked by personal hardship, including their shared struggles with infertility. He represents the other half of the collective "us" experiencing the emotional aftermath of a difficult winter.

Philip is a master of narrative poetry and an instructor at New York University. He takes a tough, demanding approach to teaching, pushing his students to work incredibly hard on characterization and setting. He acts as a formidable but highly respected mentor figure.

Sharon is an American poet known for her autobiographical rawness who teaches at New York University. She adopts a kind, caring, and supportive approach to her graduate students. She quietly helps emerging writers perfect their poem endings without them even realizing it.