Photo of a Photinia hedge.‘Hedge Theory’ by David Watt The Society December 22, 2021 Culture, Humor, Poetry 20 Comments . Hedge Theory The hedge plants are trimmed by a gardener with shears As they have been, like clockwork, for twenty-five years. Yet they push out new shoots in continuing hope Of extending their reach through the fence on the slope; Protruding through uprights, with glossy new tips, Their ruby leaves follow, like sensuous lips; Curved in the middle and quivering so From the gentlest of breeze, as it moves down the row. When the gardener arrives, I expect the hedge moans: “Can’t you see that we’re covering ironwork bones? Softening edges gives purpose for hedges, And Nature gives pleasure wherever her edge is. “Borders are fitting for nations and states, The banks of a river, or dinnerware plates; But not for Photinia branches and stems, Or sweet-smelling flowers in white diadems. “The feature we share, let us not be mistaken, Is to never give up though our dreams are forsaken— When time and again every effort is met By failure to further our reach past regret. In fact, we have assets that few would suspect: An underground network, and time to reflect “On theory developed from close observation, A lifetime of fieldwork, and growing frustration; Which holds that our gardener grows brittle with age, And little by little, he’s reaching the stage Where lifting a cutter may shatter a limb— Soon he will discover the joke is on him!” . . David Watt is a writer from Canberra, the “Bush Capital” of Australia. He has contributed regularly to Collections of Poetry and Prose by Robin Barratt. When not working for IP (Intellectual Property) Australia, he finds time to appreciate the intrinsic beauty of traditional rhyming poetry. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Trending now: 20 Responses Cynthia Erlandson December 22, 2021 It is a pleasure to read this personification of a hedge — one with ruby leaves like sensuous lips, no less! Lovely work, David! Reply David Watt December 23, 2021 Thank you very much Cynthia. I used a degree of poetic licence regarding the leaf shape. However, the new growth leaves are definitely a sensuous shade of red. Reply Cheryl Corey December 22, 2021 Beautiful hedge, beautiful poem. Clever rhyme of “hedges” with “edge is”. Reply David Watt December 23, 2021 Evan chose a beautiful Photinia hedge photo to accompany my poem. I’m so glad you like the ‘hedges/edge is’ rhyme. A two word rhyme makes a nice change when it can be accommodated successfully. Reply Margaret Coats December 22, 2021 David, “underground network” confirms the thought that this poem can be read as a socio-political allegory. How pleasant to find one in such charming disguise! Good use of the largely anapestic meter to give it a bright, easy flow. Reply David Watt December 23, 2021 Margaret, inclusion of the socio-political allegory wasn’t my initial intention when writing this piece. However, as it developed I realized that a network of freedom loving hedge plants may be seen in that light. Thanks for picking up on the anapestic meter, and the flow it provides. Reply Jeff Eardley December 22, 2021 David, I will now be riddled with guilt the next time I go out with the clippers. Amusing and thoughtful at the same time, and pleasing to know that the gardener gets his come-uppance. An interesting two-part piece. Thank you for a fascinating read. Reply David Watt December 23, 2021 Jeff, I try to come up with something original, and this piece is certainly different. I commenced the poem as a serious piece, and the come-uppance idea soon came along. The more laughs we can find these day the better. Reply Yael December 22, 2021 I never would have suspected that an anthropomorphized hedge could be so interesting and entertaining. I like it, thank you! Reply David Watt December 23, 2021 Hello Yael, thanks for your appreciation of this humanized poem. Reply C.B. Anderson December 22, 2021 In general, the harder a woody plant is pruned, the harder it grows, because pruning stimulates new growth. Proper pruning is good for a plant’s health. And I know a little bit about growing “brittle with age.” I don’t relish anymore the prospect of climbing to the top of a fourteen-foot orchard ladder. But yes, many people are afraid to prune for fear of damaging a plant, which can certainly happen if it is done improperly. Reply David Watt December 23, 2021 Kip, you may know a little of growing brittle with age, but much more about plants and their growth. Of course, you’re quite right that ‘proper’ pruning is beneficial to plants, and encourages new growth. I’m not so keen myself to climb onto the house roof for leaf clearing these days. Still, the task must be completed each year. Reply C.B. Anderson December 24, 2021 Yeah, I remember that. Eucalyptus leaves, however tempting they are to Koalas, are a fire hazard when they stack up in your gutters. Paul Freeman December 22, 2021 A hedge fable – very imaginative and very entertaining. Thanks for the read. Reply David Watt December 23, 2021 Thanks for your comment Paul. Reply Tlhopho Sole December 23, 2021 Beautiful Reading.. Reply jd December 23, 2021 I enjoyed reading your poem very much. No nits in the poem and hopefully none in the hedge. Reply Susan Jarvis Bryant December 24, 2021 David, there is so much in this poem to love. I love the rhyme and rhythm (as I do with all of your poems) and I adore some of the bold images – the glossy tips/sensuous lips is magnificent. For me, this poem reads as a metaphor; an adeptly crafted conceit… I bet you can guess the subject my imagination is fixed upon. 🙂 Thank you! Reply David Watt December 27, 2021 Thank you so much Susan. I can freely guess the subject fixed in your imagination. Reply Anna J Arredondo December 27, 2021 David, I thoroughly enjoyed this poem — so technically well written, and intriguing to the end. I also enjoyed (since I am a little behind) reading through the comments and getting more insight into its composition through your responses. It is amazing how a poem almost takes on a life of its own, growing and evolving, and you find yourself somewhere entirely different when it “ends.” Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Cynthia Erlandson December 22, 2021 It is a pleasure to read this personification of a hedge — one with ruby leaves like sensuous lips, no less! Lovely work, David! Reply
David Watt December 23, 2021 Thank you very much Cynthia. I used a degree of poetic licence regarding the leaf shape. However, the new growth leaves are definitely a sensuous shade of red. Reply
Cheryl Corey December 22, 2021 Beautiful hedge, beautiful poem. Clever rhyme of “hedges” with “edge is”. Reply
David Watt December 23, 2021 Evan chose a beautiful Photinia hedge photo to accompany my poem. I’m so glad you like the ‘hedges/edge is’ rhyme. A two word rhyme makes a nice change when it can be accommodated successfully. Reply
Margaret Coats December 22, 2021 David, “underground network” confirms the thought that this poem can be read as a socio-political allegory. How pleasant to find one in such charming disguise! Good use of the largely anapestic meter to give it a bright, easy flow. Reply
David Watt December 23, 2021 Margaret, inclusion of the socio-political allegory wasn’t my initial intention when writing this piece. However, as it developed I realized that a network of freedom loving hedge plants may be seen in that light. Thanks for picking up on the anapestic meter, and the flow it provides. Reply
Jeff Eardley December 22, 2021 David, I will now be riddled with guilt the next time I go out with the clippers. Amusing and thoughtful at the same time, and pleasing to know that the gardener gets his come-uppance. An interesting two-part piece. Thank you for a fascinating read. Reply
David Watt December 23, 2021 Jeff, I try to come up with something original, and this piece is certainly different. I commenced the poem as a serious piece, and the come-uppance idea soon came along. The more laughs we can find these day the better. Reply
Yael December 22, 2021 I never would have suspected that an anthropomorphized hedge could be so interesting and entertaining. I like it, thank you! Reply
C.B. Anderson December 22, 2021 In general, the harder a woody plant is pruned, the harder it grows, because pruning stimulates new growth. Proper pruning is good for a plant’s health. And I know a little bit about growing “brittle with age.” I don’t relish anymore the prospect of climbing to the top of a fourteen-foot orchard ladder. But yes, many people are afraid to prune for fear of damaging a plant, which can certainly happen if it is done improperly. Reply
David Watt December 23, 2021 Kip, you may know a little of growing brittle with age, but much more about plants and their growth. Of course, you’re quite right that ‘proper’ pruning is beneficial to plants, and encourages new growth. I’m not so keen myself to climb onto the house roof for leaf clearing these days. Still, the task must be completed each year. Reply
C.B. Anderson December 24, 2021 Yeah, I remember that. Eucalyptus leaves, however tempting they are to Koalas, are a fire hazard when they stack up in your gutters.
Paul Freeman December 22, 2021 A hedge fable – very imaginative and very entertaining. Thanks for the read. Reply
jd December 23, 2021 I enjoyed reading your poem very much. No nits in the poem and hopefully none in the hedge. Reply
Susan Jarvis Bryant December 24, 2021 David, there is so much in this poem to love. I love the rhyme and rhythm (as I do with all of your poems) and I adore some of the bold images – the glossy tips/sensuous lips is magnificent. For me, this poem reads as a metaphor; an adeptly crafted conceit… I bet you can guess the subject my imagination is fixed upon. 🙂 Thank you! Reply
David Watt December 27, 2021 Thank you so much Susan. I can freely guess the subject fixed in your imagination. Reply
Anna J Arredondo December 27, 2021 David, I thoroughly enjoyed this poem — so technically well written, and intriguing to the end. I also enjoyed (since I am a little behind) reading through the comments and getting more insight into its composition through your responses. It is amazing how a poem almost takes on a life of its own, growing and evolving, and you find yourself somewhere entirely different when it “ends.” Reply