Stevie Smith

I'm not terribly into poetry, I have to admit. I hope any poets or poetry aficionados will forgive me for saying this. But it's the truth.

However, since I was a teenager, I've been a huge admirer of the poems of Stevie Smith, so I thought I'd drop one in here from time to time, as I think they're magnificent.

I'll start with her most famous and probably my favourite poem...or in my top 5, at least. How could it not be?

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.