Tissue

What happens?

The poem is neutral in style merely describing the significance of paper/tissue, making it very abstract and thoughtful. At the beginning, the physical properties of paper are described - fragile and thin - however this is juxtaposed by the power that paper can have in society. We also see references to paper in a religious context, and in reference to recording births and deaths. The poet goes on to look at how paper is used as a means to control through constructs on man: maps, money, architecture, before finishing with the potential of paper to influence new generations, referenced through human tissue.

What is it about?

Tissue is a metaphor for both paper, the power of documents and human tissue. The poem shows us how nature has the power to break through the constructs of man, and how our lives are controlled by these societal and political barriers. 

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