The repetition of the parallel sentence structure 'I am too old to begin any more. I am old, I am frail' emphasizes the toll Johannesburg had taken upon Kumalo physically and great inner growth required to complete his quest. The journey had seemingly brought further chaos to Kumalo but the metaphorical imagery 'emancipation from the fear of bondage and the bondage of fear'' portrays Kumalo attaining peace. The repetition of 'fear' and 'bondage' highlights the great inner difficulty of the journey. The diversity and extremities in obstacles demonstrates the great moral change that result from a journey. .
Moral growth in individuals can be engendered through the process of a physical journey. Inner growth is evident in the ability to accept and relinquish the past - both positive and negative. In Skrzynecki's post-war poem of the emigrant's experience, "Crossing the Red Sea", the human psyche's progression is evident. The title "Crossing the Red Sea" is a religious allusion which compares the war torn emigrants, to the Jews who were led to the Promised Land from a life of slavery. They were to receive a new life like 'Lazarus' whom Jesus raised from the dead, but at the cost of their pasts. In first person, the personal statement 'I remember a field of red poppies', highlights the positive memories that were discarded and buried in the hope for a better future. The colour 'Red', is a recurring motif symbolising patriotism, the abandoned loved ones as well as the various emotions that were accepted or thrown away upon their search for change. Subsequently, the enjambment and chaotic imagery "Blood Leaves similar dark stains" – emphasizes the war and bloodshed on the European land that was left behind. With their previous lives in "patches and shreds" they head towards the 'blood-rimmed horizon' which denotes their current state of tension between their chaotic past, filled with bloodshed, and new life.