Human power is often used to control others, but this can sometimes lead to destruction. In Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem Ozymandias, we hear about about a statue of a once-powerful king. The inscription on the statue says “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings;/ Look on my works ye Mighty, and despair!” The king believed his power would last forever, but now all that is left of his rule is a broken statue in the middle of an empty desert. This shows that human power is not permanent, but fades over time. 

In My Last Duchess by Robert Browning, the Duke uses his power to control his wife. He describes how he wanted her to behave exactly as he wished and became jealous of her smiles and kindness to others. Eventually, he reveals, “ I gave commands;/ Then all smiles stopped together.” This implies that he had her killed to maintain control. The poem shows how human power can become dangerous when it is used selfishly or cruelly.

Human power doesn’t just affect others - it can also deeply affect the people who hold it or who are victims of it. In Remains by Simon Armitage, a soldier remembers killing a man during war. At first, he tries to excuse it, saying the man was “probably armed, possibly not.” However he cannot stop thinking about it. The repeated line “his bloody life in my bloody hands” shows how guilty he feels. Even though he had th empower to take someone’s life, it has left him mentally scarred. The poem reminds us that power, especially violent power, can leave lasting damage. 

Similarly, in War Photographer by Carol Ann Duffy, the poem describes a photographer who takes pictures of war. He develops his photographs in a quiet darkroom, far from the chaos of the places he’s been. The poem says “A hundred agonies in black-and-white/ From which his editor will pick out five or six.” This shows how the photographer sees the pain caused by human conflict, but the rest of the world only looks at a few of these pictures. Duffy highlights the emotional burden carried by people who witness the suffering caused by power and war.

Some poems in the anthology show how human power is fragile compared to other forces, like nature. In Storm on the Island by Seamus Heaney, people living on an island try to protect themselves against a storm. They build strong houses, but the storm is so powerful that they feel helpless. The storm is described as “a huge nothing that we fear” suggesting that nature is beyond human control. Even though humans try to fight against it, nature’s power is far greater. 

In Exposure by Wilfred Owen, soldiers are shown battling not just war but also the freezing weather in the trenches. The line “merciless iced east winds that knive us…” describes how the cold wind feels like a weapon. Owen suggests that the power of nature is more dangerous that the enemy soldiers. This shows how human power can seem weak and small when faced with forces like the weather. 

While human power can be destructive, it can also be used to resist and fight back against oppression. In Checking Out Me History by John Agard, the speaker challenges the version of history that he has been taught. He mocks the stories of figures like “Dick Whillington and he cat” and instead celebrates figures from his own cultural background, such as “Toussaint L’Ouverture.” The poem’s use of Creole (a mix of English and Caribbean language) and its irregular structure show the speaker’s defiance. Agard used this poem to highlight how reclaiming one’s identity and history is a powerful act of resistance. 

Another example of resistance can be found in Kamikaze by Beatrice Garland. The poem tells the story of a Japanese pilot who is sent on a suicide mission but decides to return home instead of completing it. Although he chooses life, his family rejects him because he did not follow the expectations of honour and duty. The pilot’s decision to resist his orders shows the strength of individual conscience - the power to choose what is right for oneself, even when other do not understand.