How does Piri Thomas use imagery in Down These Mean Streets?

Examples of Imagery:

"I felt the warmth from the furnace greet me and I welcomed it like a two-day-late home relief check...."

"I counted my fingers, then checked how many teeth I had in my mouth and guessed at the hairs on my head; I pulled off my shoes and pared my toenails with splitting fingernails; I flushed the toilet to make a different noise; I scratched and yanked and twisted and turned; I thought and dreamed, hoped and wanted—and tried to small away the shit-filled feeling of 'this is it....'"