The unnamed narrator of the poem is deeply entangled in a passionate, tempestuous relationship. He experiences conflicting desires, wanting to both consume and be consumed by his lover. He possesses an intense fascination with violence and destruction, viewing these forces as inherently tied to physical intimacy and romance.

The speaker's lover is a young man characterized by his physical magnetism and untamed, animalistic energy. He has distinctive green eyes flecked with yellow and scars that the speaker likens to train tracks. Described as a slender boy with a handgun, he embodies a dangerous, intoxicating allure that slowly cools into a dormant distance over time.

An enigmatic figure seen by the speaker on the side of the highway. He uses a hunting weapon for an everyday task and passionately carves the likeness of his lover's face into a motel wall. His open, forceful display of lust and potential for violence deeply captivates the speaker.

A manifestation of history, depicted as a small, unthreatening bureaucrat in a mundane brown suit. He represents the conventions, rules, and recorded legitimacy of society. He attempts to define a room from the outside, representing how traditional history fails to capture or contain the wild, chaotic nature of the lovers.