Sewing
The author has used the metaphor of sewing for attaching his past to his present. He becomes so much devastated after watching the terrible changes in his home that he says, "I want to sew the times together. I want to attache one moment to another, to attach childhood to age, to attach the present to the absent and all the presents to all absences, attach exiles to the homeland and to attach what I have imagined to what I see now." He imagines his home during his life in exile but after returning Ramallah, he realizes that the images which were preserved in his memories no longer exists. Everything has been ruined by the Zionists so he thinks of sewing the absent with the present.
Home
The metaphor of home has been employed for Ramallah and Palestine. Mourid spent his childhood along with his family in Ramallah but he moved to Egypt and Cairo after the invasion of Palestine to get higher education. He wanted to do something for his country so he stayed away from his home. During the six day war, he wanted to go back for his family but he was denied the access to his homeland. He couldn't get the satisfaction of a home and feelings of peace which are usually associated with one's home during his stay in different countries. He had a special affection and strong relation to his home so he only refers to Palestine or Ramallah as his home.
Wealth
The Palestinians have a strong affiliation with the olive groves. It is evident from the Palestinian literature which has presented the legacy of Palestinians to the world. In this regard, Mourid has used various metaphors to describe the importance of olive oil for the Palestinians. He has even called it the wealth of the family. He says "For the Palestinian, olive oil is the gift of the traveler, the comfort of the bride, the reward of autumn, the boast of the storeroom, the wealth of the family across centuries." Susan Abulhawa’s novel "Mornings in Jenin" also demonstrates how a Palestinian prefer his olive trees over his life.
Shepherd
The simile of a shepherd has been employed for the elder brother of the family. Mourid used to adore his elder brother in his childhood but later on his affection changed into respect and devotion. He thinks of his brother as a shepherd who tends his flock and performs the duty of a leader. He says, "Someone should write about the role of the older brother in the Palestinian family. From his adolescence he is afflicted with the role of brother and father and mother and head of family and dispenser of advice. He is the child who has always to prefer others to himself. The child who gives and does not acquire. The child who keeps watch over a flock of both older and younger and so excels at noticing things." This role has been played by all the elder brothers in Palestine because they take the responsibilities of their families on their shoulders.
