The Speaker

The speaker asks questions that prompt the reader to consider embracing life again after loss. Though the speaker's personal context remains unclear, the poem is largely concerned with the universal experiences of grief and recovery. The tone of the speaker's questions conveys an open-ended invitation because the speaker cannot guarantee what will happen after the grief of a year ends.

The Reader

This poem is addressed to those who have experienced loss. Levin does not hone in on a particular type of grief, but rather offers questions to prompt the bereaved reader to take steps toward healing and renewal. While no second-person pronouns appear in "Vigil," the repeated question "why not" insinuates that the reader has nothing to lose by following the speaker's advice.