Not waving but drowning - 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.


This is about lack of understanding of other people's lives, a lack of empathy in other words. I have always struggled how a dead man can moan, but I am in tune with being 'too far out all my life'. It's similar to the graceful swan which glides across the calm water, whilst all hell is going on under the surface. My particular spin is overextension - trying to do too much rather than sticking to what one does best. It stems from the basic mantra I grew up with - 'must do better'. The anxiety that generated has been with me always. Successes but a dark side as well of distrust and grumpiness.

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