The speaker is a witty, observant individual in a comfortable, established relationship. They use humor and contemporary, colloquial language to critique the overblown tradition of classic love poetry. They compare themselves to random, highly specific items like an evening paper blowing down an alley, a basket of chestnuts, and a blind woman's teacup. These choices express a desire for an egalitarian, realistic connection rather than an idealized fantasy.

The beloved is the romantic partner of the speaker and the subject of the poem's satirical, contradictory comparisons. Unlike the silent, objectified muses of classic love poetry, the beloved is invited to participate in the humor of the text. The speaker notes they can independently confirm these comical assessments simply by looking in a mirror. They maintain an egalitarian relationship with the speaker, anchored by mutual amusement.