God Fashioned the Ship of the World
God Fashioned the Ship of the World - meaning Summary
Order Undermined by Error
The poem presents a compact fable: God crafts the world as a skillful ship—hull, sails and a rudder—yet when a single "wrong" occurs, the helm is ignored and the vessel slips into aimless, absurd voyages. The image of a proud maker undone by one error highlights fragile order, unintended consequence, and cosmic irony. Observers in the sky laugh, undercutting any sense of solemn providence and emphasizing the poem's wry, skeptical tone.
Read Complete AnalysesGod fashioned the ship of the world carefully. With the infinite skill of an All-Master Made He the hull and the sails, Held He the rudder Ready for adjustment. Erect stood He, scanning His work proudly. Then -- at fateful time -- a wrong called, And God turned, heeding. Lo, the ship, at this opportunity, slipped slyly, Making cunning noiseless travel down the ways. So that, forever rudderless, it went upon the seas Going ridiculous voyages, Making quaint progress, Turning as with serious purpose Before stupid winds. And there were many in the sky Who laughed at this thing.
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