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.

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.