Murky Tides of Stevie Smith

Stevie Smith’s poem ’Not Waving but Drowning’

Stevie Smith’s poem ’Not Waving but Drowning’ is an example of grim poetry in which she uses the motif of suicide, as she does in all of her previous works. In this poem, she speaks both metaphorically and explicitly about a man lost at sea (Livatino 444). Furthermore, there is an incredible contradiction in the substance as well as tone, and from the frivolity of the narration to the man discovering himself in a serious situation (Waterford, Michelle 16). As a result, Stevie Smith’s work often mixes caprice and gloom, and she continues throughout this poem. Stevie Smith inspired us from tragedies in her own life. For instance, “When she was three years old her father left home” (Waterford 16), ”When Stevie was five she developed tuberculosis peritonitis and was sent to a sanatorium” (Smith & Stevie), and ”Smith’s mother died when she was 16” (Livatino 444). An analysis of Stevie Smiths poem ”Not waving but drowning” expresses a dark yet familiar tone that embodies the use of isolation and metaphor to reach out to its readers.

The theme of physical and emotional isolation

The theme of physical and emotional isolation is explored in the first verse of the poem through the image of a man who had drowned in a sea (Charlesworth & Hilary). However, physical separation can be seen in the first line ”Nobody heard him” (1) which had a meaning that he was too far into the sea that no one could hear his cries for help. On the other hand, it could also mean that no one was willing to listen or take time to understand him and, therefore, he is isolated and left with no one to lay a hand of assistance (Livatino 444). The man is lost and tormented as can be seen in the two lines, ”Poor chap, he always loved larking” (5) and ”Oh…no it was too cold always” (Flower & Dean). Under those circumstances, the author uses two contrasting moods and emotional expressions about the dead man to lament his illusive torment.

Abrupt and immediate lyrics

The lyrics of this poem are abrupt and immediate as the author omits punctuations and quotation marks to give the readers a smooth and almost un-empathetic flow of the tale while the man descends to death and doom (Waterford, Michelle 16). For instance, it can be seen in the lines ”Nobody heard him, the dead man” (1), and ”They said” (8). However, despite the fact of this style, the author sought to show readers how humans are insignificant compared to the brute of nature (Livatino 444). Therefore, this poem shows that humans are insignificant in the grand scheme of things and also live once, contrary to the sea which can be refilled with water to see another day. As an illustration, the verses “It must have been too cold for him” (7) and ”I was much too far out” (11) serve to demonstrate the intention of the author. Besides, the style makes the structure of the poem almost cyclic, and this method can be contrasted with how the man has come to the end of his life cycle.

Confusion of tenses and personal treatment of the theme

There is a confusion of tenses in some verses such as ”The dead man… lay moaning” (1-2). For this reason, it can be concluded that the dead man is used as a symbol of the author’s feelings of isolation (Livatino 444). By simply just existing, the tormented man is the embodiment that all this poem is trying to portray and so, in effect, he is ”moaning” to the poet. Conversely, throughout the poem, Stevie Smith shows a personal treatment of the theme which helps her audience appreciate it even more as the poet has a deep understanding of pain and torment (Waterford, Michelle 16). On the contrary, the vague use of the first-person narrative enables the author to use the dead man’s persona to express her thoughts. For instance, the verse ”I was much further out than you thought” (3) uses the location of the drowning man out in the deep sea to portray the emotional and mental distance one might feel when people around us do not understand us (Waterford 16). To emphasize, the fact that people wrongly interpreted the drowning man’s cries for help for something as ordinary as waving, shows that they had utterly isolated him, and they could not understand him at all.

Continuation of the theme of isolation and misunderstanding

The second verse ”He always loved larking” (5) also continues the theme of isolation and misunderstanding. In that case, people did not understand what torment the man is going through, and they just put his death down to a practical joke gone wrong. To enumerate, the word ”larking” is used in a frivolous and joking manner, yet the readers can see that the drowning man feels lost throughout his life (Smith & Stevie). On the other hand, the town people say ”and now he is dead” (6) in a sarcastic way, showing that they have little concern for his well-being. However, it could be that they view his death as the end of his misery because they knew he was suffering as can be seen in the verse ”It must have been too cold for him” (7). This verse also shows that the man was always in pain and suffering and could have therefore died from depression. Conversely, he concealed it well from the people who thought that he was still larking and wearing a mask of happiness.

Despair and closed use of speech

The final passage of the poem is characterized by the closed use of speech and sadness in which the author depicts the man almost singing sad words ”and not waving but drowning” (4). Accordingly, this scene is despair laden and builds tension through the use of words that reflect the last thoughts of the drowning man (Livatino 444). However, the author did not reveal the name of the drowning man, which is meant to invoke questions among the audience, such as: who are we? And who cares? Throughout the poem, impersonal terms like ”poor chap” ”the dead man” ”he” and ”him” are used to depict an uncaring atmosphere and demonstrate the fragility of life (Charlesworth & Hilary). With this in mind, it is easy to get forgotten just as the drowning man’s identity seems to have vanished with the wind.

The central metaphor: calling out for help while drowning

The central metaphor in this poem is calling out for help while drowning, but being mistaken for waving. Therefore, the man in the poem fakes a bright and lively personality, even though inside him feels isolated and lonely (Livatino 444). Thereupon, the reader is left with the realization that this is us in our regular lives. In general, we are all fragile creatures, dissatisfied and drowning in our responsibilities in life (Smith & Stevie). Despite the pressures we face, each one on their own, we always gift our emotions with a humorous bow while they rattle us (Flower & Dean). The world can be lonely and cruel, and it is this realization that we give a voice to others to tell their story.

Works cited

Waterford, Michelle. “Not waving but drowning.” Parity 27.4 (2014): p. 16.

Livatino, Mel. “Not Waving but Drowning.” Sewanee Review124.3 (2016): pp. 444-454.

Smith, Stevie. Not waving but drowning: poems. Andre Deutsch, 1957.

Charlesworth, Hilary. “Not waving but drowning: Gender mainstreaming and human rights in the United Nations.” Harv. Hum Rts. J. 18 (2005): p. 1.

Flower, Dean. “Not Waving but Drowning.” The Hudson Review 44.2 (1991): pp. 317-325.