NOT WAVING BUT DROWNINGStevie Smith

Not Waving But Drowning

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.

Simple poem

Meaning – literal and metaphorical

Not waving but drowning! The “death” we suffer from being ignored,

neglected and rejected by one another

Nobody heard him, the dead man,But still he lay moaning: I was much further out than you thought And not waving but drowning.

Literal level: man has drowned – made some noise but nobody heard

him

Drowned man’s words“out of his depth” Cannot stand, desperation causes him to panicLine encourages us to read poem on a metaphoric level

Poem’s titleCalls for help

Bystanders/Onlookers misinterpret his pleas for help as a friendly wave

APPARENTCONTADICTION

He has died “emotionally”, “intellectually”, “spiritually” – no one has heard his pleas for help

PAINGRIEF,HURTMISERY

Draws the reader into the poem

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.

Reaction, comments are shallow and insincere – conveyed by aloof and

patronizing tone

His behaviour/personality excuse their actions

Tone: cold, matter-of-fact, indifferent – no real

compassion or guilt for their neglect and lack of a response – short sentence structure also reflects the “neat explanations” they

offer to conceal their irresponsibility

They blame his death on the temperature of the

water

Smith is satirising these people by exposing their insincerity and

callousness – complete lack of commitment – we fail to show loving concern for others –

reader is also made to feel culpable

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.

The “dead” man contradicts the bystanders – no commas – quick and emphatic

This is not the first occasion that he was “frozen” and “ignored” –

Smith is criticising our tendency to be cold, unemotional and frigid – not prepared to offer the warmth

of true friendship

Suffering continues – asking for help which never comes

Sense of finalityMOOD OF DESPAIR AND PAIN

Reader: could be the drowning man or the bystander

TEST YOURSELF1. Discuss the appropriateness of the analogy of the swimmer throughout the

poem.

2. Stevie Smith manages to create a sense of horror, sympathy and discomfort in the reader. How does she achieve this?

3. Explain why the bystanders/onlookers respond as they do.

4. Explain the last two lines of the poem. In the light of your explanation, explain how a man can be dead and moan.

5. What general comment is Stevie Smith making about society?

6. One critic has called it “A deeply felt and tragic poem posing as a light-hearted one.” Would you agree with this assessment of the poem. Justify your answer.