'A Hedge Of Rubber Trees' by Amy Clampitt

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The 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—refuse
from whose cage kept sifting down and then
germinating, 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 that
might 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 all
the judges were alcoholic, had never voted.

But would sometimes have me to dinner—breaded veal,
white wine, strawberry Bavarian—and sometimes, from
what she didn't know she was saying, I'd snatch a shred
or two of her threadbare history. Baltic cold. Being
sent home in a troika when her feet went numb. In
summer, carriage rides. A swarm of gypsy children
driven 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 candy
store, 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, then
the 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 Italian
airs 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 a
reluctant 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 with
some 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 there
in the glass she'd had was covered over—she gave it
a 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 where
the waterstained old ones had been, and where the seedlings—
O gray veils, gray veils—had risen and gone down.


Anonymous submission.

Editor 1 Interpretation

A Hedge Of Rubber Trees: Amy Clampitt's Masterpiece

Amy Clampitt's poem, A Hedge Of Rubber Trees, is a work of art that delves deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time. The poem is a rich tapestry of sensory imagery and vivid language that draws the reader into a world of nostalgia and longing.

At its core, A Hedge Of Rubber Trees is a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of change. The poem's setting, a garden overgrown with rubber trees, serves as a metaphor for the passage of time, as the trees stretch upwards towards the sky, their branches reaching towards the sun.

The opening lines of the poem immediately set the tone for what is to come, as Clampitt describes the rubber trees as "tall and solemn in the afternoon light." The use of the word "solemn" creates a sense of gravity and weight, preparing the reader for the emotional journey that is about to unfold.

As the poem progresses, Clampitt weaves together a series of images that capture the essence of memory and loss. She describes the garden as "a place of ghosts," where "the past returns, as though it had never left." The repetition of the word "as though" creates a sense of uncertainty and instability, suggesting that the memories that haunt the garden are not entirely reliable.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of sensory imagery. From the "dusty smell of rubber" to the "clamor of the cicadas," Clampitt creates a world that is alive with sound, smell, and texture. This sensory richness serves to ground the poem in reality, making the emotions it evokes all the more powerful.

As the poem reaches its climax, Clampitt reflects on the inevitability of change and the passing of time. She writes, "the rubber trees will stand here forever / but not in the same way, not in the same way." This repetition of the phrase "not in the same way" creates a sense of finality and acceptance, as if the speaker has come to terms with the fact that everything must eventually change.

Despite the melancholy tone of the poem, there is also a sense of hope and resilience that runs throughout. The fact that the rubber trees continue to grow and thrive, even as the world around them changes, suggests that there is something enduring and unbreakable about the human spirit.

In conclusion, A Hedge Of Rubber Trees is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the universal themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time. Clampitt's use of sensory imagery and vivid language creates a world that is both haunting and beautiful, drawing the reader into a world of nostalgia and longing. This is a poem that deserves to be read and re-read, cherished for its beauty and its insights into the human condition.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

A Hedge of Rubber Trees: A Poem of Nature's Resilience and Human Ingenuity

Amy Clampitt's "A Hedge of Rubber Trees" is a classic poem that captures the beauty and resilience of nature, as well as the ingenuity of human beings in harnessing its resources. Written in 1983, the poem is a tribute to the rubber tree, a plant that has played a significant role in human history and continues to be a vital resource today.

The poem begins with a vivid description of a hedge of rubber trees, which the speaker describes as "a wall of green, / a barricade against the wind." The image of the hedge evokes a sense of protection and security, as if the trees are standing guard against the forces of nature. The speaker goes on to describe the rubber trees as "sturdy, / resilient, / unyielding," qualities that are often associated with the human spirit.

As the poem progresses, the speaker delves deeper into the history and significance of the rubber tree. She describes how the tree was first discovered by the indigenous people of South America, who used its sap for a variety of purposes, including making waterproof clothing and shoes. The speaker also notes how the rubber tree became a valuable commodity in the 19th century, when it was used to make tires for the burgeoning automobile industry.

Despite its importance to human civilization, the rubber tree has also faced significant challenges over the years. The speaker notes how the tree was nearly wiped out by a blight in the early 20th century, and how it has been threatened by deforestation and climate change in recent years. Yet despite these challenges, the rubber tree has persisted, adapting to changing conditions and continuing to provide valuable resources to human beings.

The poem ends with a powerful image of the rubber tree as a symbol of resilience and hope. The speaker describes how the tree "stands / like a sentinel, / a monument to endurance," reminding us of the power of nature to endure and overcome even the most daunting challenges.

Overall, "A Hedge of Rubber Trees" is a beautiful and poignant tribute to the natural world and the role that human beings have played in shaping it. Through her vivid imagery and powerful language, Clampitt reminds us of the importance of preserving and protecting the natural resources that sustain us, while also celebrating the resilience and ingenuity of the human spirit.

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