"Nobody heard him, the dead man, But still he lay moaning. I was much further out than you thought, and not waving but drowning. I was much too far out all my life, And not waving but drowning"

This quote by Stevie Smith is a metaphor for somebody who is dealing with depression and sensation overwhelmed by life. The speaker is comparing themselves to a dead man, recommending that they seem like they are currently dead within. The speaker is saying that no one can hear them, although they are in discomfort and attempting to reach out for assistance. They feel like they are too far out in the ocean, and not waving but drowning. This suggests that they feel like they remain in a scenario that is too hard to get away from, and that they are having a hard time to stay afloat. The speaker is saying that they have actually been in this scenario for their entire life, and that they are not waving however drowning. This quote is an effective suggestion of the value of reaching out for help when we are having a hard time, and of the requirement for understanding and support.