tissues Flashcards
Context
- comes from the collection a terrorist at my table: poem written about how the world
was stricken by fundamentalism. - written at a time when her partner was terminally ill.
- This poem could be be highlighting the vulnerability of humans to destructive
forces. The symbolic ‘terrorist’ could be within the individual rather than the
external terrorist. Could link to how her partner was vulnerable to the destructive
forces of illness.
Structure
- Free verse and unrhymed quatrains mirror the unpredictability of life, instability and
how life in its nature will keep evolving over time. Highlights the transient nature of
power - perhaps hinting at the disorganisation and irregularity in humans’ way of
life. - enjambment used to show the fluidity of life too.
Paper that lets the light/ shine through, this is what could alter things. /Paper thinned by
age
- Imagery of delicate, transparent paper contrasted with the idea of paper having the
power to “alter things” introduces the reader to the potential power of paper in the
first stanza. - This constrast could serve as ironic symbolism of how humans think their manmade creations are so powerful when really, they are flimsy compared to the might
of nature. - The verb “touching” has connotations of gentleness, again establishing the fragility
of paper. - The light could be an extended metaphor for a human soul. By showing how light
(our souls) shines through paper it shows how we attempt to be remembered by
putting little bits of us into these fragile documents. This, however, is shown not to
work, as paper ‘thins with age or touching” suggesting the fragility of life too as it
can easily be destroyed. - “Lets the light shine through” could be symbolic of nature prevailing over frail
human endeavor or touching, (power of humans, power of nature
“Maps too. The sun shines through their borderlines” (power of nature
- Man’s attempt to take control of the physical landscsapes is overshadowed by the
sun that is always prevelant and highlights how insignificant man-made figures such
as maps are in comparison. - imagery of the “sun” that “shines” conveys the idea that the sun is a powerful
natural force that will always be present, whereas the maps that humans are trying
to enforce are weak attempts to boast power and so represent that the power of
humans is pale in comparison to the forces of nature implying that life is fragile
when compared to the vast power that is nature. - In the poem “Maps too” is in between two sentences. This is a short, blunt
fragment could reflect the fixed nature of maps and borders. It shows that maps
and territories create divisions instead of freedom. - contrastingly “the sunshine through… “ and onwards is enjambment highlighting the
freedom and peace within nature. This could be hinting that entrapment and
conflict are all man-made
“Pages smoothed and stroked and turned/ transparent with attention” (power of humans)
(power of nature)
Tactile verbs, “smoothed”, “stroke” and “tuned.”
* There are long vowels and alliterative and sibilant ‘s’ sounds in ‘smoothed and
stroked’, suggesting a soothing, comforting process. The alliterative ‘t’s in ‘turned’,
‘transparent’ and ‘attention’ give the last line and the whole stanza unity.
* this could be painting an image of the deep engagement and focus when a person
is handling pages of a book. This imagery could be symbolic of how humans
become fixtated on things they find important in their life, such as money.
* this line is specifically talking about the Koran. Just a few lines earlier the poem
references how information of people’s lives are written at the back of the Koran.
So, the intense focus portayed in this line could be referencing humans obsession
with being remembered.
* “Transparent with attention’ is a juxtaposition showing that although we focus on
life, eventually our lives will become ‘transparent’ and non-existent as we fade away.
“Let the daylight break through capitals and monoliths.
- Imagery of ‘capitals’ and ‘monoliths’ could symbolise the powerful institutions that
exist in our society. - ‘daylight’ shining through represents freedom, joy and kindness. Could be
interpretated as Dharker hopes for a change where freedom and kindness become
more powerful and overcome the institutions that set out to divide us. - possibly written with the intentions to offer a beacon of hope for a fairer, kinder,
more equal society.* also reflected in the free verse structure, which perhaps mirrors the freedom she
hopes can be achieved if we are kinder to one another.
Credit card might fly our lives like paper kites
- Simile
- Stark contrast between the connotations of “fly” and “paper kites”. The verb “fly”
has connotations of unlimited freedom. - contrasted with “paper kites” which are tied down and constricted. Could highlight
how the construct of money gives us a false sense of freedom. - Dharker’s imagery helps us to imagine that we are the kite, being tied down by
money, which controls our lives.
turned into your skin.
Last line of the poem: the fragility of paper has been established throughout the
poem. The fact that the writer now suggests it is incorporated into us highlights
how humans are inherently fragile and vulnerable.
* Note also that the direct second person pronoun, ‘your’, means that the reader is
being directly addressed, emphasising that we’re all equal,
* The final single line breaks the arrhythmic quatrains, reflecting life as a whole;
unpredictable and disorganised no matter how we try to impose order. It also
suggests how sudden and unpredictable death is.
* context: Dharker’s lifelong partner during the time of this poem was slowly dying
from cancer, relating to why she could be possibly painting humans as fragile
