The speaker of the poem is an ancient, almost immortal natural formation personified with human traits. As it ages, it experiences failing eyesight and a profound sense of isolation. It continuously questions its own age but receives no answers, growing increasingly frustrated with its long existence.

An ambiguous group of people representing society or younger generations. They interact with the mountain only to accuse it of being at fault for its own physical decline. They exclude the mountain from communication, refusing to tell it anything.

The humans or climbers who explore the mountain with their lights. Because human lifespans are brief compared to the mountain's ancient timeline, they disappear quickly from the mountain's perspective. They never stay long enough to provide the lasting companionship the mountain desires.

The creatures that once lived upon the mountain. Over the immense passage of time, their lively energy has faded, leaving behind hardened, fossilized remains with lost claws. Their songs represent the vibrant natural world that the aging, deafening mountain struggles to hear.

Celestial bodies that are older and even more enduring than the mountain itself. They fly their kites in a carefree manner, representing an immortality that the lonely mountain ultimately rejects. Their distant presence offers no comfort to the earthbound mountain.