Tissue

• context

  Dharker published Tissue as part of a collection of poetry in 2006 Terrorist at my Table.  It is important to note that as a British Pakistani, post-2001, Dharker may have become aware of the intersectionality in her own and other’s identity, particularly those who are visually ‘other’.  This poem explicitly outlines the bureaucratic facets of our identity, whilst also implicitly questioning their importance. 
• form

  -poetic voice is elusive - focuses on humanity.

  -lack of regular rhyme scheme or rhythm and enjambment across the poem ~ freedom and openness reflecting the narrators desire for freedom and clarity.

  -short stanzas - poem built up in layers just like human life.
• structure

  -> 3 main parts of poem. - moving through ideas of history, human experience, creation of human life ~ focuses on identity and how it is created.
• language about light

  -> presented as a positive force that enables people to see and understand.

  -> It can move through as well as beyond boundaries and it can break through objects.
• language about creation

  -> Reference to creation as it compares man-made objects to the natural creations.
• purpose:

  to emphasise the fragility of life and human power.
• different types of tissue:

  'tissue' links with paper and humans both fragile but powerful.
• emotions: control

  -> paper can control human life ( religion, money, nature, pride)
• emotions: freedom

  -> imagines a world that breaks free from societal restrictions ~ shows a less permanent human life.
• "Paper that lets the light shine through, this is what could alter things."

  -> paper = thin and easy to destroy but has the power to change so many things (marriage, death, birth) which represents the fragility of human life and how it is forever changing.

  -> compared to how society has become more flexible like tissue.

  -> "light shine through" ~religious imagery as light symbolises God.

  paper has a divine status and you can find God through paper (holy books)
• "Paper thinned by age or touching"

  -> Paper doesn't last forever - loses is power over time if used too much (similar to human life)

  -> paper = metaphor for human tissue as it deteriorates as life goes on as we get older.

  -> symbolising how nothing is permanent and everything that we think is important.

  -> life is transient so look after ourself and cherish life because it can easily be destroyed.