The Speaker
The poem's speaker is not identified, and they use cryptic language, echoing the confusion they feel. The one thing that is clear about them is that they are growing old, and suffering as they try to cope with the effects of aging. Some of these effects are a direct result of the aging process itself, while others are a result of condescension and impatience from others. They feel confused, lonely, and frustrated. Their repeated demands to be told how old they are can be understood both as evidence of futile struggle—they ask the same question over and over again without getting an answer—and as evidence that, amid the struggles of aging, they remain unwavering and work to maintain their dignity.
