The Narrator
Collins writes in a not so disguised persona of himself. The narrators of his poems are all indirectly part of Collins, but they are not directly himself. In other words, Collins will write a given poem, like "Forgetfulness," to describe phenomena he has observed in his own life through a narrative lens which does not necessarily directly reflect his own opinions or feelings. This narrator is concerned with how the world works, with beauty, and with impermanence, always seeking to settle with the past.
Smokey the Bear
The protagonist of "Flames" is a satirical take on the pop culture icon Smokey the Bear. He is a mascot for the National Forrest Service whose role is to remind people to be cautious when using fire in the wilderness because of the potentially catastrophic effects of uncontrolled forrest fires. In the poem, Smokey becomes dejected and frustrated because he feels that his message is being ignored. Since he was created for this sole purpose, Smokey loses his investment in life. He walks into the forrest and starts a massive fire.
The Mother
In "The Lanyard" Collins writes about his thoughts on mothers, his own in particular but also mothers in general. He wonders how such a love can grant mothers the ability to give as much as they do to their children. For instance, he remembers the one time in summer camp that he decided to make a lanyard to give to his mother. It was a simple gift, to which he devoted little time, energy, or thought. Somehow, though, she had instilled in him the security to believe that this simple gift could bridge the gap between her plethora of sacrifices for him and his own ability to give back to her. He doesn't make the lanyard because he needs to or because he is trying to gain something; he does it because he recognizes how amazing this woman is and how lucky he is to be loved by her.
