They eat beans mostly, this old yellow pair. Dinner is a casual affair. Plain chipware on a plain and creaking wood, Tin flatware. How is the couple characterized in the lines of the poem?

In the lines of this poem, the couple is painted as old, worn, and without frills. This characterization comes through by the words chosen to describe their food, appearance, and furnishings. In saying that they are an "old yellow pair," the author implies they have aged and discolored as an old paper might. It hints at the fact that they have not aged well at all. "They eat beans" implies a low-cost, no-frills meal. This could mean they are unable to afford better or it could mean that they are thrifty. However, coupled with the descriptions of the tableware and furniture, it follows that the couple lives by meager means because they must. The overall impression is one of a simple, unadorned life.