The imagery of the ride in the city
Ten Broeck and Jarret are riding through a crowded city, and the sights, sounds, and smells of the city are described in detail. The author writes, "From a makeshift stand, a man with a strange accent hawked oranges, which Jarret had seen before, and bananas, which he had not. Nearby, a woman ran a coffee stall, the aroma of her roasting beans sharp in the heavy air. Canals carved their way between the streets and children dropped lines into the ditches. From a store selling only birds, a cacophony of parrots shrieks. Women with trays balanced on their heads called out their wares, figs nestled in fig leaves or pralines fragrant with burned brown sugar." This imagery helps to paint a vivid picture of the bustling city, and it allows the reader to feel as if they are there experiencing it for themselves.
The imagery of the wealthy versus the poor
The imagery of the wealthy moms paints a vivid picture of a group of privileged individuals who are well-off enough to have the free time and resources to go running together. They are described as wearing "vivid tank tops and cropped tights that showed off well-kept bodies and toned calves" and are depicted as friendly and socially engaged, as one of them calls out to Theo, "Cute dog!" This imagery serves to highlight the stark disparities in wealth and privilege between the wealthy moms and the narrator, Theo, who is struggling to make ends meet and is living in the shadow of the Salesforce Tower. The imagery also serves to illustrate the breadth and depth of Theo's life experiences, as he muses on the differences between the privileged lifestyles of these wealthy moms and the more communitarian ethos he has encountered in his international travels.
Imagery of horses
This imagery used is to describe the horses and their behavior. "Alice and Darley were grazing, their coats flickering and twitching as they shrugged off flies." This description gives the reader a sense of the horses' movements and provides a visual of the scene. It also conveys the peacefulness of the moment. Later, when Darley starts to race around the field, the imagery is used to show his athleticism and endurance. "But Darley had athleticism and endurance. As the youngsters gained muscle and balance, they raced one another around that field. Darley could start last, distracted by a rustle in the leaves or cricket in the grass, then, noticing that the others were away, take off after them, running right up between his rivals, game enough to force his way through to the lead." This imagery of the horses running and playing around the field paints a picture of their joy and energy, as well as Jarret's pride in Darley's determination.
The imagery of Theo’s activities
The author uses vivid descriptions to create a clear picture of the scene. For example, when Theo introduces Jess to his dog, Clancy, he describes the kelpies he used to watch as a child as "moving a couple of hundred merinos with just the power of their stare." This paints a vivid image of the power and strength of the dogs and conveys the admiration Theo has for them. Additionally, when Jess looks at Theo's hand, she imagines the "extended metacarpals and phalanges, the nubbly carpals of the wrist" and "each bone: proximal, intermediate, distal." This imagery provides a detailed description of Theo's hand, which conveys Jess's fascination with him. Finally, when Theo is describing his experience playing polo, he speaks of it in terms of being "one being, like a centaur" and "flying down the field." This conveys the feeling of freedom and power that Theo experienced while playing, and the reader can visualize him on the field.
