He uses several vivid, highly effective metaphors to make the argument that his people deserve justice but have been treated unjustly. He portrays "awesome war" (the "shock and awe" variety practiced by Israel and the U.S. on less powerful nations) as a stern, iron-handed, unjust teacher. He points out the that famous Pax Romana ("peace of Rome") was based on a system of justice. "War's clouds" refer to the dark state produced by war. He also points out that the Middle East is the "cradle" of human culture, as civilization began in the Middle East. Like Paul Celan, he mixes the literal with the metaphorical.