Smith uses an imperfect rhyme scheme on the even numbered lines. An imperfect rhyme scheme occurs when the final consonant sounds in two words are the same but the vowel sounds are different. She carefully chooses the words moaning and drowning in line 2 and 4, dead and said in line 6 and 8, and moaning and drowning in lines 10 and 12. I believe this simple rhyme scheme produces an even flowing poem that effectively expresses characteristics of her bluntness on life and death. The utilization of persona that the poet assumes is an extension of her feelings for life. She is very cynical towards life in general and has an uncanny humor about the invitation of death. The deceased personas indignation at being misunderstood is grotesquely as well as pathetically amusing (Sternlicht 64). In line 5 loved larking or fooling around explains the mans outlook on life. This use of alliteration the repetition of consonant sounds in consecutive or neighboring words, conveys how he always fooled around which was his way of crying out for help, and instead used this method to mask his problems by having a reputation of larking. Obviously [i]t must have been too cold for him his heart gave way, implies that the cold is what killed the man but not their misinterpretation of him waving to signal for help instead of simply fooling around (line 7). It also shows their ignorance to the mans overall situation and how they dont know his problems. And not waving but drowning in the final stanza, shows us that during his life he has been not waving but drowning in the sea of life (line 12). The waving this time is disguised as cries for help but people interpreted him as fooling around like usual. Since no one gives him the attention he needs he drowns in his own problems. He mentions this in line 12 again in a sarcastic tone. Continuing with tone in this poem the poet clearly articulates a mournful and ironic poem. The man is dying and waves ...
