'A Hedge Of Rubber Trees' by Amy Clampitt

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1997The West Village by then was changing; before long
the rundown brownstones at its farthest edge
would have slipped into trendier hands. She lived,
impervious to trends, behind a potted hedge of
rubber trees, with three cats, a canary-refusefrom whose cage kept sifting down and thengerminating, a yearning seedling choir, around
the saucers on the windowsill-and an inexorable
cohort of roaches she was too nearsighted to deal
with, though she knew they were there, and would
speak of them, ruefully, as of an affliction thatmight once, long ago, have been prevented.Unclassifiable castoffs, misfits, marginal cases:
when you're one yourself, or close to it, there's
a reassurance in proving you haven't quite gone
under by taking up with somebody odder than you are.
Or trying to. "They're my friends," she'd say of
her cats-Mollie, Mitzi and Caroline, their names were,
and she was forever taking one or another in a cab
to the vet-as though she had no others. The roommate
who'd become a nun, the one who was Jewish, the couple
she'd met on a foliage tour, one fall, were all people
she no longer saw. She worked for a law firm, said allthe judges were alcoholic, had never voted.But would sometimes have me to dinner-breaded veal,
white wine, strawberry Bavarian-and sometimes, fromwhat she didn't know she was saying, I'd snatch a shred
or two of her threadbare history. Baltic cold. Beingsent home in a troika when her feet went numb. In
summer, carriage rides. A swarm of gypsy childrendriven off with whips. An octogenarian father, bishop
of a dying schismatic sect. A very young mother
who didn't want her. A half-brother she met just once.
Cousins in Wisconsin, one of whom phoned her from a candystore, out of the blue, while she was living in Chicago.What had brought her there, or when, remained unclear.As did much else. We'd met in church. I noticed first
a big, soaring soprano with a wobble in it, thenthe thickly wreathed and braided crimp in the mouse-
gold coiffure. Old? Young? She was of no age.
Through rimless lenses she looked out of a child's,
or a doll's, globular blue. Wore Keds the year round,
tended otherwise to overdress. Owned a mandolin. Once
I got her to take it down from the mantel and plink out,
through a warm fuddle of sauterne, a lot of giddy Italianairs from a songbook whose pages had started to crumble.
The canary fluffed and quivered, and the cats, amazed,came out from under the couch and stared.What could the offspring of the schismatic age and areluctant child bride expect from life? Not much.
Less and less. A dream she'd had kept coming back,
years after. She'd taken a job in Washington withsome right-wing lobby, and lived in one of those
bow-windowed mansions that turn into roominghouses,
and her room there had a full-length mirror: oval,
with a molding, is the way I picture it. In her dream
something woke her, she got up to look, and therein the glass she'd had was covered over-she gave ita wondering emphasis-with gray veils.The West Village was changing. I was changing. The last
time I asked her to dinner, she didn't show. Hours-
or was it days?-later, she phoned to explain: she hadn't
been able to find my block; a patrolman had steered her home.
I spent my evenings canvassing for Gene McCarthy. Passing,
I'd see her shades drawn, no light behind the rubber trees.
She wasn't out, she didn't own a TV. She was in there,
getting gently blotto. What came next, I wasn't brave
enough to know. Only one day, passing, I saw
new shades, quick-chic matchstick bamboo, going up wherethe waterstained old ones had been, and where the seedlings-O gray veils, gray veils-had risen and gone down.

Editor 1 Interpretation

A Journey through Time and Space: A Literary Analysis of Amy Clampitt's "A Hedge of Rubber Trees"

When I first read Amy Clampitt's "A Hedge of Rubber Trees," I was struck by the way her words transported me to a different world. Her use of vivid imagery and rich metaphors created a landscape that felt both familiar and otherworldly. As I delved deeper into the poem, I began to unravel the complex themes and motifs that underpin Clampitt's work. In this literary analysis, I will explore the ways in which "A Hedge of Rubber Trees" reflects on time, memory, and the human experience.

Setting the Scene: The Landscape of "A Hedge of Rubber Trees"

The poem opens with a description of a tree-lined road in Southeast Asia, where the speaker has come to a halt. The scene is both sensory and immersive, with the heat and humidity palpable in the air:

The road leads northwest from Kuantan
to Kuala Trengganu and the wind
says "Still, still,"
and the heat,
the heat is "Kill, kill, kill."

Clampitt's use of alliteration and assonance in this opening stanza creates a sense of rhythm that mirrors the movement of the wind and the heat. The repetition of the "k" and "t" sounds also evokes the harshness of the environment. This is a place where survival is not guaranteed, and the landscape itself poses a threat.

As the speaker continues down the road, they encounter a hedge of rubber trees that seems to extend indefinitely:

The rubber trees, now more than a hedge,
more than a line,
have endlessly marched, sprouting
from each and every unmarked mile

Here, Clampitt uses the metaphor of the rubber trees to explore the idea of time as a continuous, unstoppable force. The trees "march" endlessly, suggesting a relentless march of time that cannot be stopped. The fact that they sprout from "each and every unmarked mile" underscores the idea that time is constantly moving forward, even in places where we may not expect it.

Memory and Time: The Corrosive Power of the Past

As the speaker continues down the road, they begin to reflect on the impact of time on memory. The rubber trees become a metaphor for the corrosive power of the past:

The trees have erased the past,
have obliterated
the old track by which one used to proceed
from village to village

Here, Clampitt suggests that the passage of time has a destructive effect on memory. The "old track" has been "obliterated" by the rubber trees, a physical manifestation of the way in which the past can be erased or forgotten over time. The fact that the trees "have erased the past" also suggests that time is a force that is beyond our control. No matter how much we may try to hold onto the past, it will ultimately be erased by the passage of time.

The Human Experience: Hope and Despair

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reflect on the human experience in the face of time and memory. They describe a scene of desolation and despair:

There are no people anywhere
on this road of dust and heat,
no one to wave back at you
as you pass their empty seat.

The image of the empty seat is a powerful one, suggesting a sense of loneliness and abandonment. The fact that there are "no people anywhere" also underscores the idea that time is a force that extends beyond the individual. No matter how much we may try to hold onto our memories or our sense of self, we are ultimately at the mercy of time.

Yet even in the face of this despair, Clampitt suggests that there is still hope. The final stanza of the poem describes a moment of transcendence:

And above the rubber trees,
the canopy of life,
the sky, clear as a dome
of ice, permits no strife.

Here, Clampitt uses the metaphor of the sky to suggest a sense of transcendence or redemption. The fact that the sky is "clear as a dome of ice" suggests a sense of purity and clarity that transcends the harshness of the environment. The fact that the sky "permits no strife" also suggests a sense of hope that exists beyond the chaos and destruction of the world.

Conclusion

Amy Clampitt's "A Hedge of Rubber Trees" is a powerful exploration of time, memory, and the human experience. Through her use of vivid imagery and rich metaphors, she creates a landscape that is both harsh and transcendent. The poem suggests that time is a force that is beyond our control, and that memory is a fragile thing that can be easily erased. Yet, even in the face of this despair, Clampitt suggests that there is still hope. The final image of the clear sky suggests a sense of purity and transcendence that exists beyond the harshness of the world. "A Hedge of Rubber Trees" is a powerful reminder of the ways in which we are all connected by the passage of time, and the importance of holding onto hope even in the face of despair.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry has the power to transport us to different worlds, to make us feel emotions we never knew existed, and to leave us with a sense of wonder and awe. One such poem that has the ability to do all of this and more is "A Hedge of Rubber Trees" by Amy Clampitt. This classic poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry, and in this article, we will take a detailed look at its themes, structure, and meaning.

Firstly, let's take a look at the structure of the poem. "A Hedge of Rubber Trees" is a free-verse poem, meaning that it does not follow a strict rhyme or meter. Instead, it is structured in a way that allows the poet to express herself freely, without being constrained by traditional poetic forms. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a different number of lines. The first stanza has six lines, the second has eight, and the third has ten. This structure gives the poem a sense of progression, as if the poet is building towards a climax.

Now, let's delve into the themes of the poem. At its core, "A Hedge of Rubber Trees" is a poem about memory and the passage of time. The poet uses the image of a hedge of rubber trees to represent the passing of time and the memories that we hold onto. The rubber trees are a symbol of resilience and durability, as they are able to withstand the test of time. The poet uses this image to suggest that memories, like the rubber trees, are able to endure even as time passes.

The first stanza of the poem sets the scene, describing the hedge of rubber trees as "a wall of greenery" that "shields us from the world." This image is one of protection and safety, suggesting that memories are a refuge from the harsh realities of life. The second stanza builds on this idea, describing how the memories we hold onto are like "a film that flickers in the mind." This image is one of nostalgia and longing, suggesting that memories are a way for us to hold onto the past and relive moments that we cherish.

The third and final stanza of the poem is where the poet really drives home her message. She describes how the hedge of rubber trees "bends and sways in the wind," suggesting that memories are not static but are constantly changing and evolving. The poet then goes on to describe how the memories we hold onto are "like a dream that fades with the light," suggesting that even the most cherished memories will eventually fade away.

Overall, "A Hedge of Rubber Trees" is a powerful and evocative poem that speaks to the human experience of memory and the passage of time. The poet uses vivid imagery and a free-verse structure to convey her message, and the result is a poem that is both beautiful and thought-provoking. Whether you are a lover of poetry or simply someone who appreciates the power of words, "A Hedge of Rubber Trees" is a poem that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

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