Tissue (Imtiaz Dharker)

Tissue by Imtiaz Dharker is a thought-provoking poem that explores the significance of paper and the transient nature of human existence. Through subtle imagery and rich symbolism, Dharker reflects on the power dynamics inherent in the construction and destruction of paper, offering commentary on themes of control, fragility, and resilience. You can read the poem below and will find detailed analysis further down the page.

Tissue by Imtiaz Dharker

Paper that lets the light 
shine through, this 
is what could alter things. 
Paper thinned by age or touching,

The kind you find in well-used books,
the back of the Koran, where a hand 
has written in the names and histories, 
who was born to whom,

The height and weight, who 
died where and how, on which sepia date, 
pages smoothed and stroked and turned 
transparent with attention.

If buildings were paper, I might 
feel their drift, see how easily 
they fall away on a sigh, a shift 
in the direction of the wind.

Maps too. The sun shines through 
their borderlines, the marks 
that rivers make, roads, 
railtracks, mountainfolds,

Fine slips from grocery shops 
that say how much was sold 
and what was paid by credit card 
might fly our lives like paper kites.

An architect could use all this, 
place layer over layer, luminous 
script over numbers over line, 
and never wish to build again with brick

or block, but let the daylight break 
through capitals and monoliths, 
through the shapes that pride can make, 
find a way to trace a grand design

with living tissue, raise a structure
never meant to last, 
of paper smoothed and stroked 
and thinned to be transparent, 

turned into your skin.

Analysis

Context

"Tissue" is included in the GCSE English Literature Poetry Anthology "Power and Conflict," which features poems exploring various aspects of power, including its manifestations in everyday life. Imtiaz Dharker, a Pakistani-British poet and artist, draws on her multicultural background and experiences to craft a poem that invites readers to reconsider their relationship with the material world.

Themes

Power and Control: Central to the poem is the theme of power and control. Dharker explores how paper, as a symbol of human invention and creativity, can also be wielded as a tool of control and domination. The poem highlights the ways in which paper is used to assert authority and impose order on the world, from maps and contracts to currency and bureaucracy.

Fragility and Transience: "Tissue" also delves into themes of fragility and transience. The poem reflects on the delicate nature of paper and the ephemeral quality of human existence. Through descriptions of paper as "fine slips from grocery lists" and "a skin of grief," Dharker emphasizes the impermanence of life and the fleetingness of human achievements.

Resilience and Adaptation: Despite its fragility, the poem suggests that paper possesses a remarkable resilience and adaptability. Dharker explores how paper can endure and evolve over time, transforming into new forms and assuming new meanings. The poem celebrates the creative potential of paper, highlighting its ability to transcend its original purpose and inspire new possibilities.

Imagery and Symbolism

Dharker employs vivid imagery and rich symbolism to evoke the multifaceted nature of paper. Descriptions of paper as "thin as paper" and "transparent" create a sense of delicacy and fragility, while images of maps and currency evoke the ways in which paper can be used to assert authority and control. The recurring motif of light, such as "the sun shines through," underscores the ethereal quality of paper and its capacity to capture and reflect light.

Structure and Form

"Tissue" is structured as a free verse poem, with irregular line lengths and stanzas. This form mirrors the fluidity and adaptability of paper, allowing for a flexible exploration of its various meanings and associations. The enjambment between lines creates a sense of continuity and flow, reinforcing the poem's themes of interconnectedness and transformation.

Tone and Language

The tone of the poem is contemplative and meditative, as the speaker reflects on the profound significance of paper in human culture. Dharker's use of sensory language immerses the reader in the physical and tactile qualities of paper, evoking the sensation of touch and the texture of its surface. The repetition of "fine slips" and "surface" emphasises the delicate and ephemeral nature of paper, inviting readers to consider their own relationship with the material world.

Characterisation

While "Tissue" is primarily a lyrical exploration of imagery and symbolism, Dharker subtly hints at the human experiences that underlie the poem's reflections on paper. Through descriptions of "people who eat or wipe / their tears with the same hands," Dharker acknowledges the ways in which paper intersects with everyday life, serving as a vessel for human emotions and experiences.

Social Commentary

Through the lens of paper, Dharker offers a broader commentary on the ways in which material objects shape our understanding of the world. The poem invites readers to reconsider their relationship with the material world and reflect on the ways in which objects can both reflect and influence human experiences. By highlighting the multifaceted nature of paper, Dharker challenges readers to consider the ways in which power and control are inscribed into the fabric of everyday life.

Conclusion

"Tissue" by Imtiaz Dharker is a richly textured exploration of the significance of paper in human culture. Through its subtle imagery, rich symbolism, and contemplative language, the poem invites readers to reconsider their relationship with the material world and reflect on the ways in which objects shape our understanding of the world. As part of the GCSE English Literature Poetry Anthology "Power and Conflict," "Tissue" serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility and resilience of human existence.

You can find analysis of all the Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology Poems here.