The Australian journalist, poet, novelist, and broadcaster Clive James wrote “Japanese Maple” as a poem in his last years. James was born in Sydney, Australia, on the 7th of October 1939, and passed away on 24th November 2019. James began his career as a journalist, critic, and lyricist—something that runs parallel but with sharp wit and insight.

He was confirmed to have terminal leukaemia in 2010. Increasingly, he would write in poetry to express his thoughts on mortality, beauty, and legacy.

Clive James became one of Britain’s most celebrated cultural commentators. James moved to England in 1961 to study at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he became president of the Cambridge Footlights. His literary career took off soon after, and he remained in the UK for the rest of his life.
James first gained recognition as a television critic for The Observer newspaper from 1972 to 1982. His witty and sharp insights on British television made him a household name. His columns, later compiled into books such as “Visions Before Midnight” and “The Crystal Bucket”, showed his ability to blend intellectual depth with humour. His writing was both accessible and insightful, making him one of the most influential TV critics of his time.

Broadcasting and television career

While James made his name as a writer, his distinctive voice, dry wit, and self-deprecating humour made him a natural presenter. In the 1980s and 1990s, he hosted a range of programs, most famously Clive James on Television, in which he humorously reviewed and commented on international television clips, often highlighting the bizarre and the ridiculous.

James was also a skilled translator, particularly of poetry. His translations of “Dante’s Divine Comedy” were praised for their clarity and poetic rhythm, making the classic work more accessible to modern readers. His love of poetry remained central to his career, and Japanese Maple being one of his warm examples. In his later years, he wrote deeply personal poems reflecting on mortality, legacy, and the beauty of life.
Throughout his career, James maintained a strong connection to Australia, despite spending most of his life in England. His writing often touched on his Sydney upbringing, and he remained a beloved figure in Australian literary circles. His legacy endures as one of the greatest cultural commentators of his time.

Japanese Maple: The poem

Written in 2014, Japanese Maple is a moving meditation on the fragility of life, inspired by a tree given to him by his daughter. He refers to his wish in the poem, poignantly expressed, to live long enough to see the maple’s leaves turn brilliant in autumn—a metaphor for the fleeting yet radiant beauty of life. With bright imagery and masterful rhyme, James immortalised his farewell in words.

The poem resonated with readers and poets alike and was appreciated for its elegance, wit, and emotional resonance. Fellow poet George Szirtes called it “a formal and elegant valedictory,” noting its craft and candour.

The timeless themes and that refined structure meant that “Japanese Maple” went on touching lives long after James himself finally died in 2019.

The poem has found a place in modern ceremonies and is read at funerals as a way of paying respect to the deceased. Many public figures uttered its profound meaning while trying to express their acceptance, gratitude, and the lasting relation between life and memory.

Japanese Maple: The legacy

Japanese Maple is as important to James’s larger legacy as a writer: widely published, including an autobiographical epic, The River in the Sky, and a translation of Dante’s Divine Comedy, these works firmed his reputation as both a deep and versatile writer.

For more poem inspiration visit the Save Funeral Costs blog of funeral poems.