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. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOR THE FALLEN (SEPTEMBER 1914) by LAURENCE BINYON JOHN BROWN'S BODY by CHARLES SPRAGUE HALL SEVERUS TO TIBERIUS GREATLY ENNUYE by JOSEPH AUSLANDER OLD SARUM; LINES ON THE CONFERENCE OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH AT SALISBURY by ALICE COLBURN BEAL PERFECT UNION by MATHILDE BLIND THE BALLADE OF THE SUMMER-BOARDER by HENRY CUYLER BUNNER TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 4. THE DEAD COMRADE by EDWARD CARPENTER |