The importance is that Saul didn’t do his purpose of what he was supposed to do.
Gilbert's relation with his father is strong, though it may be presented as complicated, as his father used to stay away at the sea for the majority of the time.
<u>Explanation:</u>
In the story, "Another Place, Another Time", Gilbert is presented as a young boy, who despises time, as it is time which comes in the way of his father and him. His father stays away at the sea for long and Gilbert has to spend that time just waiting.
When his father dies, he again blames time as he wants all the time back which he spent with his father.
Hence, it is these incidents that represent that he has a strong bond with his father.
I believe it is personification because he is giving the sand the ability to stretch and to be alone which sand cannot do.
It has five metrical feet that each contain an unstressed syllable
