Japanese Maple by Clive James

[Neville Briggs]

He has been a marvellous poet Heather , as well as skilled linguist and perceptive social commentator, it will be a loss to the literary world when he is gone.

[Heather]

I hadn't heard that Clive James was terminally ill until reading this poem.

His poem is gentle and accepting of death and the knowledge that the seasons will still come and go after he has gone. Notice how he switches from "Your death" in the first stanza to "I take my share" in the third stanza?

Heather

[Shelley Hansen]

Take a look at Clive James' website, particularly the poetry section: http://www.clivejames.com/poetry/

Under "Recent Poems" you'll find quite a few more written from his sharpened perspective of terminal illness. Like "The Japanese Maple", they are both philosophical and heart-wrenchingly beautiful.

Regards
Shelley

[Heather]

A program on ABC tonight included interviews with Clive James. I'm definitely going to read more of his poetry.

[Catherine Lee]

A very clever man and a beautiful, poignant poem. I always placed him high on my list of people I'd most like to meet at a dinner party - as if THAT was ever going to happen!

[Bob Pacey]

Not my cup of tea death will come soon enough without spending your time writing poetry about it.


Bob

I do like the rhyme pattern though.

[Heather]

Bob he is not just writing about death, he is writing about life going on after his death.

[Bob Pacey]

Nah don't believe in reincarnation either.


Bob

[Heather]

[Bob Pacey]