God fashioned the ship of the world carefully. - A poem by Stephen Crane

Stephen Crane - God fashioned the ship of the world carefully.

God 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.

Added: on February 26th, 2007 at 10:50 AM | Viewed: 10634 times | Comments and analysis of God fashioned the ship of the world carefully. by Stephen Crane Comments (8)

God fashioned the ship of the world carefully. - Comments and Information
Poet: Stephen Crane (Stephen Crane Art) Poem: 6. God fashioned the ship of the world carefully. Volume: The Black Riders & Other Lines Year: Published/Written in 1905 Poem of the Day: Feb 2 2004 Comment 8 of 8, added on December 8th, 2008 at 8:18 PM. In the beginning of the poem, the ship symbolizes the world. God's creation of the ship makes that obvious. However, when the ship begins to follow it's own course I believe it is supposed to reflect mankind's course ("rediculous voyages", "stupid winds"). The poem isn't anti-god. Crane beleives in god in the Deist respect and this poem is proof. God made the world, now he watches it's progress. In his story "The Open Boat", Crane explains that the plight of man is that people believe that God is responsible for our misfortune. Crane would have us, instead, become accountable for our actions and make our own fate. God does not steer our ship! Ken from United States Comment 7 of 8, added on May 5th, 2007 at 11:01 PM. It's very ironic that God still has the rudder. It's as though he has the power to steer the world, but the can't use it. While it says god is all-powerful, an "All-Master" he is also powerless. Anachronism Comment 6 of 8, added on February 26th, 2007 at 10:50 AM. I believe that this poem is a metaphor of me, i am imperfect in this world of perfection. i am rudderless in this world of perfect navigation, as these GPS devices guide hopeless wanderers from invisible places just as people claim God guides us. i am left with no GPS or cellular phone i am distant from this world of communication. Civillization is leaving me in its wake, i have no technology therefore in this modern world i am imperfect. lady mystique from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, God fashioned the ship of the world carefully., has received 8 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Stephen Crane with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Stephen Crane Poem: 6. God fashioned the ship of the world carefully. Volume: The Black Riders & Other Lines Year: Published/Written in 1905 Last read: Nov 25 2009, 7:38AM Poem of the Day: Feb 2 2004 Viewed 10634 times. Added on February 26th, 2007 at 10:50 AM.

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