Stevie Smith, "Not Waving But Drowning"

[rfmcdonald]

I found this poem as part of my efforts at compiling a list of everything I've read (for ENG 493, of course). It bears reproduction.

(ENG 192, fall semester 1997.)

***

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.