Stevie Smith

thumb|Stevie Smith Stevie Smith (born Florence Margaret Smith; 20 September 1902 – 7 March 1971) was an English poet and novelist. Quotes thumb|All things pass Love and mankind is grass. This Englishwoman is so refinedShe has no bosom and no behind. "This Englishwoman". A Good Time Was Had by All (1937) Nobody heard him, the dead man, But still he lay moaning:I was much further out than you thoughtAnd not waving but drowning. "Not Waving but Drowning", st. 1. Not Waving but Drowning (1957) So I fancy my Muse says, when I wish to die,Oh no, Oh no, we are not yet friends enough,And Virtue also says:We are not yet friends enough. "Exeat". The Best Beast (1966) All things pass Love and mankind is grass. "All Things Pass". The Frog Prince and Other Poems (1966) Selected Poems (1962) I wish I was more cheerful, it is more pleasant,Also it is a duty, we should smile as well as submittingTo the purpose of One Above who is experimentingWith various mixtures of human character which goes best,All is interesting for him it is exciting, but not for us.There I go again. Smile, smile, and get some work to doThen you will be practically unconscious without positively having to go. "Thoughts about the Person from Porlock (continued)" Was he married, did he tryTo support as he grew less fond of themWife and family? "Was He Married?" He did not love in the human way. "Was He Married?" To choose a god of love, as he did and does,Is a little move then? Yes, it is. A larger one will be when menLove love and hate hate but do not deify them? It will be a larger one. "Was He Married?" The religion of ChristianityIs mixed of sweetness and crueltyReject this Sweetness, for she wearsA smoky dress out of hell fires. "Thoughts about the Christian Doctrine of Eternal Hell" I made Man with too many faults. Yet I love him.And if he wishes, I have a home above for him. "God Speaks" All the same, there is a difficulty. I should like him to be happy in heaven here,But he cannot come by wishing. Only by being already at home here. "God Speaks" Who is this that comes in grandeur, coming from the blazing East?This is he we had not thought of, this is he the airy Christ. "The Airy Christ" No man has seen her, this pitiful ghost,And no woman either, but heard her at most,Sighing and tapping and sighing again,You have weaned me too soon, you must nurse me again. "The Wanderer" The boat that took my love awayHe sent again to meTo tell me that he would not sleepAlone beneath the sea. "The Boat" The flower and fruit of love are mineThe ant, the fieldmouse and the mole "The Boat" Why does my Muse only speak when she is unhappy?She does not, I only listen when I am unhappy. "My Muse" External links Category:1902 births Category:1971 deaths Category:Poets from England Category:Novelists from England Category:Atheists from England Category:Humanists