Power vs Nature: The Core Comparison
Both poems make it crystal clear that human power is temporary whilst nature's power lasts forever. Dharker cleverly uses an extended metaphor comparing paper to human life, showing how fragile we really are. Meanwhile, Shelley takes a different approach by showing us a once-mighty ruler whose power has crumbled to dust.
In "Tissue," the "paper thinned by age" creates a beautiful comparison between paper and human life. The poem's cyclic structure mirrors life itself - from birth to death and back again. When Dharker writes about light shining through paper, she's symbolising hope and new life, like a newborn baby bringing joy to a family.
The sibilance in phrases like "pages smoothed and stroked" creates gentle sounds that reflect how we care for children and the elderly. It's ironic though - the 's' sound continues, but life always ends. However, there's hope: through paper, "names and histories" live on, just like Ozymandias' story survives through his statue, even though his actual power has vanished.
Key insight: Paper can "alter things" - change memories, religion, and history. The word 'alter' might even reference a church altar, suggesting spiritual forces can influence human behaviour.