The emotional language used in her memories shows a direct contrast to her current situation, as well as her reasons for leaving home. The use of personification, in lyrics such as "the sea roared like an angry beast", provides emphasis to the emotional language, used to describe the alienation felt. The language is so eloquent, conjuring up vivid and compelling images of Ziba's emotions, particularly as he feels the highs and lows of the unforgiving ocean. Through figurative and evaluative language, Ziba is able to describe his past and present feelings and memories. The strong connection between sensory experiences and memory is sophisticated and clear, making the text direct and resonant. The author uses similes such as “thoughts of home flood Ziba like the wave of the sea flooding the bridge,” connecting the past and present, creating feelings of loneliness, as she reflects on her once peaceful home. The effective use of noun clusters – children's laughter, fresh mountain air, rich spices from the evening meal – along with a series of sensory verbs – think, feel and smell – assists and connects the reader to Ziba's thoughts. Furthermore, the use of repetition on the first and last pages of the text places emphasis on the unstable state of one's emotions, on the uncertainty of what needs to be done.