Not waving but drowning

Not waving but drowning
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 always too cold always
(Still the dead one lay moaning)
I was much too far out all my life
And not waving but drowning.