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.

Perhaps you are walking around this Christmas with a happy mask - but you are actually much to far out all your life, and not waving but drowning. 

Then I have a piece of poetry for you.