Vladimir Mayakovsky
Mayakovsky is a Russian poet whom Koo imagine spending the day with in "Shopping with Mayakovsky." Unlike Koo, Mayakovsky is prone to no fancies of imagination. He allows no complaining or self-defeating language. To him, the world is black and white and the sunshine worth fighting for in the midst of troubles.
Samuel Beckett
He is mentioned in "Lunch Special," his impeccably humorous timing being the association drawn. He was an Irish poet and theater director. His work is characterized by humor, which apparently has stuck with Koo in his own writing.
The Waitress
The waitress from "Lunch Special" is just doing her job. In the protagonist's self-loathing imagination, however, he projects his insecurities onto her. She is a goddess who arrives just in time, every time, to embarrass the protagonist and humiliate him for stuffing his face so eagerly.
The "In-Between"
In "American Dream" the narrator talks to himself ashamedly concerning his internet porn usage. He accuses himself of using the people on screen as "in-between" forms, a mixture of real human and imagination. They're not necessarily people, just resources for his constant quest for possession and satisfaction.
Gunny
Gunny is Koo's college friend whom he writes about in part in "Always Finish What You Start." The poem recounts significant events in Koo's life, attempting to cohere events in a manner that communicates their impact on Koo. During their twenties, Koo and Gunny share an avid love of cinema and connect through the films. As their lives develop and Gunny marries, they drift apart. Even in the distance, Gunny adamantly insists that films are a part of him, just the same way Koo himself is. He attends one last film with Koo and Gunny's pregnant wife.
