Not Waving but Drowning
Stevie Smith
Authors Biography
Florence Margaret Smith, also known as Stevie Smith was born on September 20, 1902 and lived till March 7,1971. She lived in Palmers Green, in Northern London until her death. Stevie Smith was 68 when she died. Smith attended North London College for girls. She was mostly known for her Nursery rhyme lie poems. During Ms. Smiths' time she wrote many novels and poems. This woman was a very well rounded poet and lived a great life.
Not Waving but Drowning
BY STEVIE SMITH
Nobody heard him, the dead man,
But still he lay moaning:
I was much further out than you thought
And not waving but drowning.
Poor chap, he always loved larking
And now he’s dead
It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way,
They said.
Oh, no no no, it was too cold always
(Still the dead one lay moaning)
I was much too far out all my life
And not waving but drowning.
A Little About the Poem
This poem has a very deep meaning. It is basically saying that there is a young man, and he has been alone most of his life. What people do not know is that this young man is in fact suffering, and not doing well on his own. Before anyone could realize what was going on he was already gone. Stevie smith has a very dark personality in this poem. It seems to be very gloomy and upsetting.