whilst leila sleeps

• “my fingers tie knots like fish nets.” - simile 


  The use of a simile has the effect of making the action sound clumsy and nervous. Just as fish nets contain many knots, so too are her fingers tying. This implies that endings are being rushed and she is not able to take her time. It emphases her fear of being caught, and hints at a net closing in around her and a past life of physical labour.
• “Leila is a bundle” - metaphor 


  Just as bundles are wrapped up and protected, so too is she trying to hide and protect her child. it suggests that the persona and child may also not be treated like people, and instead as possessions, like other bundles in her car.
• “my headlights are paranoiac eyes” - personification 


  just as headlights are sweeping and alert, so too are her eyes as she is incredibly worried about her safety and who is coming for her. This suggests that the speaker is alert and afraid she will be caught. This fear is justified when she is caught.
• “my voice is a voice with the roof blown off” - metaphor 


  she is now exposed. the link to voice suggests persona is struggling to hide/contain her fear. ‘blown off’ has connotations of explosions/bombs/war. this may kill to persona‘s past life (did she flee war to get here?)
• ‘she holds on’

  this suggests that the persona is both holding onto her child physically and metaphorically holding onto hope. It emphasises that their relationship is safe and they will always be there for each other.
• ”I am moving..packing..turning…’

  A sense of urgency is shown in these lines because they are written in the present tense. This makes her actions seem worried and panicky.