Birdseye Scholar
Most likely referring to Clarence Birdseye, 1886–1956, an American inventor of the food-freezing process, as well as a businessman.
The Speaker
The speaker in this poem is observing the tension between the human desire to be remembered, and accepting one's life as valid even as it fades. He does so by initially referring to a "he," but later in the poem it seems that the "he" and the speaker are the same person.
"He"
The "he" that the speaker is referring to is presumably a person struggling with the difficulties of wanting to be remembered for his work, while knowing he will someday be forgotten.
