The first-person narrator of the poem, widely understood to be the poet Mary Oliver herself. She contemplates how to live a life full of pleasure and joy despite the inevitability of aging and physical decline. Observing the physical world around her, she seeks to merge her daily routine with nature and reconcile the opposing forces of life and death.

A professional photographer and the life partner of Mary Oliver for over forty years. Though not explicitly named within the lines of the poem, her recent death heavily influences the speaker's thoughts. Her absence forces the speaker's exploration of grief, mortality, and the urgency of living fully in the present.

A small creature buried in the sand that functions as a reflection of the speaker's mental state. Initially safe and hidden, it is eventually dug up and described as sleepy, serving as a physical manifestation of a life nearing its end. It acts as an earthbound contrast to the birds and insects of the sky.

A fast-moving bird that brings images of flight, movement, and vibration to the speaker's immediate surroundings. It actively seeks out sustenance and joy, functioning as a vibrant mirror for the speaker's pulsing love for the physical world.

A winged insect that naturally understands how to exist in the present moment. Along with the wren, it represents the airy feeling of life and flight, offering a sharp contrast to the heaviness of the buried clam.

A small bird of the sky that effortlessly embodies the infinite nature of living in the present. The speaker shouts to it in gratitude, recognizing it as a teacher in how to live forever through continuous wonder.