Narrator, “Accountability”
The narrator of this poem is a mere observer. He or she does not play a part in the story that is shared, but rather recounts it for the readers. The narrator of this poem aims to share with readers how everyday objects—such as a library or a simple stretch of road—can be held accountable by those individuals who rely on it.
Truckers, “Accountability”
The truckers in this poem are used to exemplify the reliability of long stretches of road. Though inanimate, these vast stretches of road are what permit the truckers to continue in their work and travel thousands of miles. The truckers in this poem rely upon the empty stretches of road and therefore hold the road accountable for transportation and rest.
Narrator, “Bess”
As with many of Stafford’s poems the narrator of “Bess” is nothing more than a storyteller. He/she is not a character within the story, but is rather a character of observation. The narrator of this poem is omniscient, and is privy to Bess’ own emotions, as well as the oblivious nature of those around her. The narrator appears to have one purpose: to share Bess’ selfless and giving nature with as many readers as possible; to honor and treasure her memory because she chose not to do so when she was alive.
Bess, “Bess”
The titular character and subject of this poem is characterized as an incredibly selfless individual. It is because of her selflessness, however, that she suffers greatly. At The beginning of the poem, it is revealed that Bess has been diagnosed with a deadly form of cancer. In the remainder of the poem, we follow her through her final year of life. In this time, Bess chooses to keep her diagnosis a secret, so as to spare her family and friends from the burden of sorrow and uncertainty. Because of this, Bess still serves as the emotional sounding-board for her friends and loved ones. She listens to their complaints about arbitrary troubles, all while enduring incredible amounts of pain. In this way, Bess is an incredibly selfless individual who did not allow her own sufferings and pain to affect those around her.
Narrator, “In the Deep Channel”
The narrator of this poem is a casual observer who is transmitting information about the channel and fishermen’s experiences to the readers. The narrator offers no judgement regarding either the catfish or the fishermen and is, instead, called upon to simply share the story and experience of the nighttime deep-sea trawlers.
Catfish, “In the Deep Channel”
The catfish in this poem, despite being nothing more than fish that are traveling through the channel, play an integral role and are, in fact, the subject of the poem. The fish, without intending to do so, have destroyed and delayed the fishing empire, due to the fact that their nighttime trawling of the seas snagged and then broke the fishing lines and nets. In this way, the fish are representative of the greater unyielding purpose of nature; though the waterways and channels are the natural home to the catfish, they are blamed for the destruction of human instruments, which have—rather ironically—invaded their natural habitat.
Fishermen, “In the Deep Channel”
Though never explicitly described or examined in great detail, the fishermen that are featured in this poem are the victims of one of nature’s creations: catfish. It is described in the poem that the catfish, which move into the area with the current, destroy the nets, trawlers, and fishing lines that the fishermen use to make a living. Therefore, it is these fishermen who are most negatively impacted by the invasion of the catfish populations.
