The speaker is a man of Caribbean descent who observes the physical and cultural transformation of his homeland. He stands on the island of St. Thomas, witnessing the industrialization of the natural world through machinery and imported infrastructure. Being of dual heritage, he experiences a deep, cellular discomfort as the loyalty of the land and his own cultural identity shift beneath his feet.

A collective presence on St. Thomas representing the industrial and economic influence of the United States. They inhabit fenced-off villas near the water and drive the commercial transformation of the island. Their actions bring modernization, such as Cessnas and bulldozers, while establishing physical barriers that separate them from the local population.

The native-born citizens of the Caribbean islands who provide the workforce for the growing industrial economy. Despite being the original inhabitants of the territory, they are treated as outsiders by the wealthy elite. They endure the commercial destruction of their environment while lacking the basic rights to belong that are freely afforded to the local crabs and molluscs.