The Poems of Stevie Smith appear at first reading to be simple and easy. But beneath the surface there is a lot more going on than you would ever imagine.
CROFT 'Aloft,
In the loft,
Sits Croft;
He is soft.

FAFNIR AND THE KNIGHTS which begins 'In the quiet waters
Of the forest pool
Fafnir the dragon
His tongue will cool

Some of her best loved poems are about cats,and one of the best is THE SINGING CAT which begins 'It was a little captive cat
Upon a crowded train
His mistress takes him from his
box
To ease his fretful pain.
The same poem concludes 'He lifteth up his innocent voice
He lifteth up,he singeth
And all the people warm themselves
In the love his beauty bringeth.

A wonderful collection of Stevie Smith's ,at times somewhat incomprehensible work. ( )

Everyone knows Smith's famous "Not Waving But Drowning," but there is lots more where that came from. She is an acquired taste. Is she trying to rhyme, or not? Rather like Dickinson in her use and disregard for formal rules. The drawings provide guidance into her tone and style: that juncture of wit and pain. A bit like Dorothy Parker, but with an English accent. She struggles with and against Christianity and life in general. ( )