The speaker of the poem is a young boy growing up in rural County Derry, Northern Ireland, who later becomes an adult reflecting on his past. He exists in a liminal space between his father's rural, Irish Catholic farming traditions and his mother's industrial, Protestant-leaning heritage. Moving between these cultural and familial divides, he chooses a path as a writer rather than a farmer or factory worker. He physically balances these identities, conceptualizing himself as a boundary like a march drain.

He is a farmer who owns a 50-acre farm called Mossbawn in County Derry. Coming from a deeply rooted Irish Catholic ancestry, he raises cattle and maintains a traditional lifestyle distinct from the nearby industrial towns. His worldview and agricultural legacy present one half of the cultural divide that shapes his son's identity.

She is a woman from an industrial town whose family works at the local linen mill. Her lineage includes Protestant cultural ancestry, setting her background in contrast to her husband's rural Catholic upbringing. Her presence in the family provides the speaker with a connection to the modernization and industrialization of Northern Ireland.

He is an Irish earl engaged in a rebellion against English rule in the late 16th century. He manages a powerful fiefdom that threatens the English monarchy, ultimately leading to a tense negotiation in the middle of the river Moyola. His historical presence is imagined by the speaker during a childhood game on a river stepping-stone.

An English earl who intercepts Hugh O'Neill to negotiate a parley in the middle of a river. Despite being on opposite sides of a violent historical conflict, he attempts to offer quarter to his opponent. His actions carry steep consequences, as his monarch later punishes him for his loyalty to an Irish friend.

The ruling monarch of England who sets out to capture the rebellious Irish lords. She dictates the terms of the conflict, demanding absolute loyalty from her subjects and punishing those who attempt to negotiate peacefully with her enemies.

She is an author and the wife of the poet, meeting him during their mutual time in teacher training at St Joseph's. She accompanies him on moves across Ireland and the United States as his literary career expands.

An academic who moves to Belfast to lecture at Queen's University, founding the influential Belfast Group. He provides critical mentorship to a generation of Northern Irish poets.

An English poet who works closely with Heaney. His contemporary writing style sparks a serious interest in poetry for the young university student, pushing him toward publication.

A fellow poet of the Northern School who joins the Belfast Group. He shares a sometimes close friendship with Heaney, participating in the same literary workshops that shape their early careers.