Quotes from Stevie Smith, Selected Poems

My heart was full of softening showers, I used to swing like this for hours, I did not care for war or death, I was glad to draw my breath.

The world is come upon me, I used to keep it a long way off, But now I have been run over and I am in the hands of the hospital staff.

Unpopular, lonely and loving, Elinor need not trouble, For if she were not so loving, She would not be so miserable.

I'll have your heart, if not by gift my knife Shall carve it out. I'll have your heart, your life.

Love is not love that wounded bleeds And bleeding sullies slow. Come death within my hands and I Unto my love will go.

Prate not to me of suicide, Faint heart in battle, not for pride I say Endure, but that such end denied Makes welcomer yet the death that's to be died.