'Not Waving but Drowning'

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. 

Stevie Smith