The Speaker is the narrator of the poem, traveling on a moving bus. They possess a deep understanding of sudden loss and the fragility of the future. By observing the world outside the window and the actions of their fellow passengers, the speaker delivers a direct, urgent message about the necessity of experiencing sorrow.

The Reader is the direct recipient of the speaker's instructions. The speaker places the reader into hypothetical situations, such as holding carefully saved items or traveling down a desolate road. They are tasked with feeling their future dissolve and waking up with profound sorrow.

The Dead Man is an unnamed Indian individual whose journey ends abruptly on the roadside. He wears a white poncho and dies while still holding plans for the night. His sudden death halts his forward movement permanently, contrasting with the continuing motion of the bus.

Kindness begins as an abstract concept and transforms into a living entity by the end of the poem. It ties shoes and sends people out into the day to look at bread. It introduces itself directly, claiming it is the true companion people have been searching for all along.

The Passengers are a group of people traveling on the same bus as the speaker. They eat meals of maize and chicken while staring out the window. They believe the bus will never stop, maintaining a physical and emotional distance from the desolate regions outside their vehicle.