STEVIE STEVIE SMITHSMITH

(1902-(1902-1971)1971)British British poet, poet,

novelistnovelist

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Stevie SmithStevie Smith was was born in Hull in born in Hull in September 1902, the September 1902, the second daughter of second daughter of Ethel and Charles Ethel and Charles Smith. She was Smith. She was christened Florence christened Florence Margaret, but always Margaret, but always called Peggy by the called Peggy by the family. She acquired family. She acquired the name Stevie as a the name Stevie as a young woman when young woman when she was riding in the she was riding in the park with a friend who park with a friend who said that she reminded said that she reminded him of the jockey, him of the jockey, Steve Donaghue.Steve Donaghue.

► Stevie Smith studied at the North Stevie Smith studied at the North London Collegiate School for Girls. London Collegiate School for Girls. She was employed as a secretary at She was employed as a secretary at Newnes-Pearson, magazine Newnes-Pearson, magazine publishers, for most of her life and publishers, for most of her life and also worked occasionally as a writer also worked occasionally as a writer and broadcaster for the BBC. and broadcaster for the BBC.

► Stevie Smith lived at the north Stevie Smith lived at the north London suburb of Palmers Green London suburb of Palmers Green with her aunt, an eccentric character with her aunt, an eccentric character whom she called "the Lion". Her whom she called "the Lion". Her aunt died in 1968, aged 96. Smith aunt died in 1968, aged 96. Smith never marriednever married. .

“Why does my Muse only speak when she is unhappy?She does not, I only listen when I am unhappy. “ “ MY MUSE"

Throughout her life she Throughout her life she wrote poems, but she was wrote poems, but she was also the author of a prose also the author of a prose

work, work, Novel on Yellow Novel on Yellow PaperPaper (1936), which took (1936), which took

the form of an entertaining, the form of an entertaining, largely autobiographical largely autobiographical

monologue. Her other monologue. Her other novels include novels include The The

HolidayHoliday (1949), the story (1949), the story ofof

a failed love affair. She also a failed love affair. She also published short stories, published short stories,

essays and literary essays and literary reviews. reviews.

► However, Smith is primarily known as a However, Smith is primarily known as a poet. Eccentric, mischievous, often poet. Eccentric, mischievous, often disturbing, these short pieces contain disturbing, these short pieces contain beneath their lighthearted surfaces an beneath their lighthearted surfaces an undertone of loneliness, boredom and undertone of loneliness, boredom and death. death.

► Her best-known poem is the title piece in Her best-known poem is the title piece in the collection the collection Not Waving but Drowning Not Waving but Drowning (1957(1957), a line that has entered public ), a line that has entered public consciousness; but her reputation was consciousness; but her reputation was already established in 1937 by the already established in 1937 by the collection A Good Time Was Had By All. In collection A Good Time Was Had By All. In the 1960s, she was a popular figure at the 1960s, she was a popular figure at poetry readings and made a number of poetry readings and made a number of radio broadcasts and recordings. radio broadcasts and recordings.

► In 1975, 4 years after her death, Smith's In 1975, 4 years after her death, Smith's Collected Poems was published, illustrated Collected Poems was published, illustrated by her own witty doodle-sketches of men, by her own witty doodle-sketches of men, women and animals. Stevie, a play based women and animals. Stevie, a play based on her life, was staged in 1977 with Glenda on her life, was staged in 1977 with Glenda Jackson and was later made into a film Jackson and was later made into a film (1978). (1978).

► This EnglishwomanThis Englishwoman (?,1937) (?,1937) ► A Good Time Was Had By AllA Good Time Was Had By All (Cape, 1937 (Cape, 1937 ► Tender Only to OneTender Only to One (Cape, 1938) (Cape, 1938) ► Mother, What Is Man?Mother, What Is Man? (Cape, 1942) (Cape, 1942) ► Harold's LeapHarold's Leap (Cape, 1950) (Cape, 1950) ► Not Waving but DrowningNot Waving but Drowning (Deutsch, 1957 (Deutsch, 1957) ) ► Selected PoemsSelected Poems (Longmans, 1962) includes 17 previously unpublished (Longmans, 1962) includes 17 previously unpublished

poems poems ► The Frog PrinceThe Frog Prince (Longmans, 1969) includes 69 previously unpublished (Longmans, 1969) includes 69 previously unpublished

poems poems ► The Best BeastThe Best Beast (Longmans, 1969) (Longmans, 1969) ► Two in OneTwo in One (Longmans, 1971) reprint of (Longmans, 1971) reprint of Selected PoemsSelected Poems and and The Frog The Frog

PrincePrince ► Scorpion and Other PoemsScorpion and Other Poems (Longmans, 1972) (Longmans, 1972) ► Collected PoemsCollected Poems (Allen Lane, 1975) (Allen Lane, 1975) ► Selected PoemsSelected Poems (Penguin, 1978 (Penguin, 1978))

POETRY

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.

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.

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.

References:References:

► http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/http://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoem.do?poemId=7089singlePoem.do?poemId=7089

► http://www.eliteskills.com/c/12713http://www.eliteskills.com/c/12713► http://165.29.91.7/classes/humanities/http://165.29.91.7/classes/humanities/

britlit/97-98/smith/smith3.htmbritlit/97-98/smith/smith3.htm► http://www.slideshare.net/mropoetry/not-http://www.slideshare.net/mropoetry/not-

waving-but-drowning-presentationwaving-but-drowning-presentation► http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/

1634329/1634329/not_waving_but_drowning_analysis.htmlnot_waving_but_drowning_analysis.html

► http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Smithhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Smith

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING !THANK YOU FOR LISTENING !