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Not Waving, But Drowning

The poem 'Not Waving, But Drowning' by Stevie Smith explores themes of loneliness and misunderstanding, highlighting how the struggles of the dead man were misinterpreted as playful gestures. The indifference of onlookers reflects a self-centered society that fails to recognize the value of individuals until it's too late. The imagery emphasizes the tragic disconnect between the man's desperate situation and the perceptions of those around him.

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Cristiana Iordanescu
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31 views1 page

Not Waving, But Drowning

The poem 'Not Waving, But Drowning' by Stevie Smith explores themes of loneliness and misunderstanding, highlighting how the struggles of the dead man were misinterpreted as playful gestures. The indifference of onlookers reflects a self-centered society that fails to recognize the value of individuals until it's too late. The imagery emphasizes the tragic disconnect between the man's desperate situation and the perceptions of those around him.

Uploaded by

Cristiana Iordanescu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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.
-the struggle to maintain himself alive looks from the outside as an attempt to wave, but in fact the
gravity of the gestures was much severe and intense.

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.
- People do not feel quilt for not observing the imminent situation that was happening under their
eyes. The whole responsibility is in the hands of the dead man himself, the cold temperature of
the water being a factor that caused his death, but not their indifference.

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.
-it can be seen the detachment of the quilt. People mistook his drowning gestures as waving but
they do not feel responsible for it.

The main themes are loneliness and misunderstanding in a world where people are self-centered
and do not appreciate the value of someone when they are alive, but when it is too late. The
imagery is very striking and puts the emphasis of the act of drowning.

Works cited
Not Waving, But Drowning

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