How does Chang-rae Lee use imagery in Native Speaker?

Imagery:

"To tell him that I loved him, I studied far into the night. I read my entire children's encyclopedia, drilling from aardvark to zymurgy. I never made an error at shortstop. I spit-shinned and brushed his shoes every Sunday morning. Later, to tell him something else, I'd place a larger bouquet than his on my mother's grave. I drove only used beat-up cars. I never asked him for money. I spoke volumes to him this way, speak to him still, those same volumes he spoke to me".