Name: Stevie Smith (1902–1971) Nationality: English
Fact: Stevie Smith’s real name is Florence Margaret Smith. She was called Peggy by her family but was nicknamed Stevie by a childhood friend. When she was fi ve, she developed TB and spent three years in hospital recovering. She was separated from her mother at the age of seven and believes this is when she developed an obsession with death.
‘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.
