The Speaker

The unnamed first-person speaker addresses the reader in an intimate way, offering advice on how to deal with despair. The speaker's empathy and sensitivity quickly become apparent: "Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine" (6). Though the speaker is aware and in awe of the world on a larger scale, he or she is not some omniscient authority figure doling out commands. Instead, the speaker shares this awareness of nature as a balm to the reader's suffering. Ultimately, the speaker believes in the interconnectedness of all beings.

You (The Reader)

Using the second-person perspective, the speaker addresses any readers who suffer from perfectionism, despair, loneliness, and isolation. The pressure to be perfect (which may stem from cultural or religious teachings) is the first topic of focus. Freed from the need to "be good," the reader is guided back into his or her body and...