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Comment 24 of 24, added on April 19th, 2006 at 4:33 PM.
The nominal subject—a plea for help mistaken for a salutation—practically embodies the dominant theme of twentieth-century lyric poetry; that is, the agony of the insulated, isolated self, which keeps straining and failing to metamorphose into language. But Smith pushes things to the border of parody—the “dead one” is somehow “still moaning” (and moaning an unpoetic “Oh, no no no” at that), his life is flippantly eulogized by the phrase “he always loved larking” (larking?), and the simultaneously fussy and tub-thumping rhyme on “They said” in the second stanza puts a weirdly comic spin on the spectacle of a man’s heart giving way. One reaches for the word tragic-comic, but it doesn’t seem adequate; as in many Smith poems, we seem to be getting too much information, and not enough. orr
shalini from United States
Comment 23 of 24, added on March 28th, 2006 at 8:23 PM.
This poem is definitely a poem having to deal with society; I can see how many people see both sides of the poem- both the figurative and the literal- because it makes sense. More than anything, however, I feel like people should be able to learn from this poem that obviously outside appearances are often false.
Talia from United States
Comment 22 of 24, added on November 26th, 2005 at 1:40 PM.
BBC has a recording of Stevie Smith reading Not Waving But Drowning on their website. It requires Real Audio software but you can get that for free. http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/poetry/outloud/
I tend to agree with Fatima of Pakistan, this poem is about suffering in silence. To me this is the "human condition". Drug addiction, suicide, lack of communication, etc....it is all the same, just a different face!
David Roder from United States
Comment 21 of 24, added on November 25th, 2005 at 8:05 PM.
I first read this poem about 3 years ago. It has never left me.I believe the poem is about depression, for whatever reason. Presently I am experiencing severe depression, which as anyone knows who has experienced it, like falling into a big black hole. Generally people who do not get depressed do not understand or feel embarrassed or bored, which doesn't really help with communication. So we laugh, mostly at our own expense, and make jokes, keeping our dark side very private. I have one friend who understands because she's been there. NO! We don't wallow, just accept when the other is feeling hopeless. I attend a psychiatrist for the first time ever and am quite open about it. But being depressed is a very lonely place.
Our man in the poem has finally exposed himself to his f friends, unfortunately too late.
Wendy Davioes from Austria
Comment 20 of 24, added on September 5th, 2005 at 4:17 PM.
the theme of the poem is definitely lack of communication... it gives us a lesson to always let your felling go or share them time to time.
jasmeet from United States
Comment 19 of 24, added on August 29th, 2005 at 6:22 AM.
this poem is about people of our society who are are happy and contented on the outside and seem to be enjoying life but are suffering on the inside-'larking' on the outside and drowning internally.
fatima from Pakistan
Comment 18 of 24, added on August 9th, 2005 at 2:06 AM.
I think that 'they' the people around him, hear his 'moaning', but have heard it so often: 'still he lay moaning', that they think he is just attention seeking, and so no longer hear him or see him as 'waving' for help. So he gives up: 'his heart gave way', and commits suicide.
Camilla from United Kingdom
Comment 17 of 24, added on June 14th, 2005 at 12:39 PM.
It's such a complex song but here's one view. Hear the voices in the poem, his and the world's. He did one thing, the others perceived it as other and saw him completely different (if anyone really looked that is). Even 'dead', still he has to clear it out... But it's the voices, like every sentence has a tone. Seems more like a poem about life, not death.
G.
Comment 16 of 24, added on June 12th, 2005 at 9:43 PM.
people overlook suffering. this poem emphasises the fact that many people seem cheerful on the outside, whereas they are truly depressed within. On the outside, it seems as if he is just waving. But it is really a cry for help.
Jamie from Algeria
Comment 15 of 24, added on June 7th, 2005 at 12:41 PM.
I think the theme of this poem is lack of communication. there is metaphor for alienation and nonconformism. Furthermore, there is bitterness of loneliness.
is from Turkey
This poem has been commented on more than 10 times. Click below to see the other comments.
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The nominal subject—a plea for help mistaken for a salutation—practically embodies the dominant theme of twentieth-century lyric poetry; that is, the agony of the insulated, isolated self, which keeps straining and failing to metamorphose into language. But Smith pushes things to the border of parody—the “dead one” is somehow “still moaning” (and moaning an unpoetic “Oh, no no no” at that), his life is flippantly eulogized by the phrase “he always loved larking” (larking?), and the simultaneously fussy and tub-thumping rhyme on “They said” in the second stanza puts a weirdly comic spin on the spectacle of a man’s heart giving way. One reaches for the word tragic-comic, but it doesn’t seem adequate; as in many Smith poems, we seem to be getting too much information, and not enough. orr
shalini from United States