“Not Waving but Drowning” is a poem by Stevie Smith and was first published as part of a collection with the same title in 1957. The poem has been linked to Smith’s personal life with the account interpreted as her struggle with psychological issues.
The poem is told in both first-person and third-person perspectives and tells of a drowning man signaling for help but is mistaken for waving. Though the subject matter is dark in nature it has a humorous tone conveyed in a deadpan style. The first-person speaker, most likely the dead man, interposes between the narrations to highlight his predicament.
The apparent theme conveyed in the poem is the failure of communication and misapprehension. The drowning man is known for his larking therefore the crowd misinterprets his call for help which leads to his demise. The extended metaphor in the poem is the struggle with mental illness and a sense of loneliness. Smith struggled with psychological problems that often go unnoticed by others but overwhelming for the sufferer.
