God's Wheel by Shel Silverstein
GOD says to me with a kind of smile,
"Hey how would you like to be God awhile
And steer the world?"
"Okay," says I,
"I'll give it a try.
Where do I set?
How much do I get?
What time is lunch?
When can I quit?"
"Gimme back that wheel," says GOD.
"I don't think you're quite ready YET."
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People obviously have too many questions and don't know how to run an ineffable plan.
ReplyDelete-Patrick Lee
I agree with Patrick, at least about asking too many questions. Sometimes, it's better to just jump in and try something, without having all the information first.
ReplyDeleteI think that God changes his mind about giving over the wheel not just because the narrator is asking questions as Patrick and Abby said, but also because of the questions that he is asking. The questions show that he is not honored with the position of steering the world, but looks at it as a chore that he wants to escaping through lunch and quitting time. He also seems like he's only in it for the money he thinks he'll be getting. We should be honored to perform the tasks were given because they ultimately all come from God.
ReplyDeleteI think Silverstein is trying to say that no one is able to have God's power and no one should attempt to obtain them.
ReplyDeletePatrick Evans
So God is giving the narrator a chance to be Him for awhile, and experience what he goes through. That's a great learning experience! But instead of accepting and giving it a shot, he is too conserned about things like how much money will he get or how long he has to be God. Instead of embracing a chance to learn and maybe become a better person, he throws it all away because of trival matters. I think Shel Silverstein is trying to point out how people do not focus on the bigger picture, or the positive side of situations. They would rather focus on the negative and trival.
ReplyDelete-Kaitlyn Sabourin
I believe that Silverstein is making a valid point that mankind should not try to be God. God is an omnicient being whose majesty is unfathomable. We as people do not and cannot know this full power and never will be able to. As illustrated by the poem, we cannot be God therefore we should leave God to be God.
ReplyDeletehaha people are stupid for complaining. If I were a god OHH I would so take advantage of that. It's not REAL power unless you abuse it! just kidding. God should've chosen someone more worthy of the power anyway. he shouldn't have to go through that scene if he already knows that guy isn't ready to be a god. but Silverstein has to do something if she's gonna say stuff with this poem, so i like it anyway.
ReplyDeletePhilip Wolfe
I don't think this poem is really about religion or God. I think that it is actually using someone taking God's place as a metaphor for someone who is trying to do something beyond his or her capacity. We all should avoid jumping directly into things we have no idea about and actually learn how to do something before trying it.
ReplyDelete-Zhijian Xing
This poem isn't necessarily saying that God literally asked this boy to take his spot. I think this is more along the lines of people dive into things before thinking them thoroughly through. This boy said "Okay, I'll give it a try" before actually thinking about how hard it would to be God. This poem is stating take things slow and make sure you're ready to take on the positions and tasks you're about to take.
ReplyDeleteThe author is saying people get into things before they really know how much work it could be.
ReplyDelete-Amanda Akridge
The thing that caught my eye most about this poem is how concise it is and how the conversation completely turned around so quickly. This is how life is sometimes; you gain more responsibilities and everything and seem to have a handle on it, and then all of a sudden you can't control anything that happens to you. Sometimes it doesn't even have to do with your actions. Taking control and being responsible with the life you are given is a big resposibility, and sometimes you just want to ask "How much do I get? When can I quit?". But if you give up, the wheel of your life will spin out of control, which I think is one of the scariest things in the world. I think that Silverstein kind of wants you to know that if you aren't ready or you're just still building strength, that God is always there to guide the wheel if you need Him to.
ReplyDeleteThis poem is a good example of a seemingly simple poem that contains so many different layers of meaning. Good job of sussing those out, guys!
ReplyDeleteI believe this poem conveys the unwillingness and laziness of the people of the world. When we are faced with something hard or challenging we give up or look for a way out. However God is always there to help us if we ask him.
ReplyDeleteIs this poet for real? I mean, its obvious he thinks that he asks too many wuestions, but God asking some random guy off the street to take his place? I'm taking this way too seriously, I know! But come on! I would kill to be God for a day! And i wouldnt ask questions!
ReplyDeleteHa what a nice and simple poem! I feel that Silverstein is saying we as humans ask far too many and detailed questions and we ignore the big picture. We as people focus on the little details that are seemingly unimportant and we fail to see what the bigger picture is which can present us with greater oportunitites.
ReplyDeletepeople always want to know when something is over and never take time to look at life and enjoy it
ReplyDelete-joey hanson
I think the author is also highlighting how people veiw their jobs and work. We go through the day just to get through it with no apparent ending point or reward. We try to skip ahead to lunch break or quiting time and refuse to take the time to look at what we're doing or try to get satisfaction out of it.
ReplyDeleteI think Silverstein is explaining how vast the work of God truly is. We are always looking to take breaks and stop doing our work, while God is constantly putting forth effort for the world. The author is getting the point across that we are selfish beings because we are indeed constantly searching for the next break or the time when we finish. We do this instead of focusing on the task at hand.
ReplyDeleteWhen God asked the narrator if he would like to steer the world for a while, I think that God wanted to show the narrator that being God is more than just a walk in the park. When the narrator started to ask all the questions, I think that he was just scared and realized that he wasn't ready to be God.
ReplyDelete-Maggie Peake
I like this one, it shows that people might ask too many questions about something that could be not that hard to control. Also, it shows that we are not ready to do what God has done for a very long time.
ReplyDeleteVictoria Naatz
This poem reminds me of a father-son moment. The person is like the child and is not prepared to take control of his or someone else's world, and God is just letting him have a small taste of what responsibilty is like. But at the end, God says he is not ready for the responsibilty, but he implies he will be later on.
ReplyDeleteMary Eisenhower
People are not trusting their own abilities!!
ReplyDeleteI think God already knows the narrator isn't ready to "steer." He's just tired of the crap He gets from the narrator, who represents us. More like "If YOU think its so easy, why don't YOU do it?" And then the comment at the end is sarcastic, saying the narrator will be ready later.
ReplyDeleteCarley
Its not the fact that the narrator was asking questions that made God take back the wheel. It was the type of questions he was asking. It showed that he did not have the proper perspective to "steer" the world. He was too focused on worldly matters rather than how he could help other people for example.
ReplyDeleteThis poem is interesting because it so simple literally, but there are so many ways to interpret the deeper meaning. God's action of giving the wheel to the speaker displays his graciousness and generosity. The poem also shows that God is constantly looking out for us, since he takes the wheel back when the speaker proves not to be ready for such a task.
ReplyDeleteThis poem is very cute. I like it.
ReplyDeleteI think it means more that we, as humans, are more self-centered, as evidenced by the fact all of the questions pertain to the speaker. It is almost as though we are incapable of looking completely objectively (or at least unbiased-ly) at the world, and thus incapable of 'steering' it.
Not that we are horrible or anything, it is just that we are not God, and unable to fully comprehend his plans (they are ineffable after all) and as such not in a position to take the world for a spin. I mean, it isn't like you would ask a toddler to drive your car on the interstate, right?
In response to Jonathan Smith- he is saying what all of us are thinking, you have to admit. Anyone who's seen Bruce Almighty knows that there are times when we'd kill to play God. But you cannot only "play God" you either are, or you aren't. In the movie, Bruce only helps himself. Isn't that so much like human nature, though? Someone gets into a rank of high power and uses to better their own lives? It's not malicious, that's not what i wish to convey, but it is human nature- man will seek to better their own half before anyone elses. I do have a tendency to bite off more than I can chew, and I'm trying to work on that- there are so many opportunities that I want to take and experience, but, like the boy in the poem, someone would have to yank them away and say, "you're not quite ready, yet."
ReplyDeleteThis poem represents the common person. Most people care about their jobs and money, however in time they will learn and take control.
ReplyDeleteLucero
So basically I agree with a lot of what has already been said such as how people are unprepared for this sort of job and how they don't qualify but also I would like to point out the way a few of the words have been capitalized. I hope it's not just some weird typos you did, Ms. Smith, otherwise most of my comment is pointless. :( So, I'm gonna assume that you're still the amazing English teacher you are and that you wouldn't make that sort of mistake or that you weren't under the influence of anything...just kidding (maybe) about that part! Anyways, the first word to be in all caps, God, is the very first word in the poem, spoken by the narrator. First of all, it would give the poem a nice opening boom but I don't think that's quite what Silverstein was going for. It seems to go along with what others have already said about the poem, people aren't prepared to do such a big job and so the narrator is emphasizing how big of a deal this is like an "oh my gosh!" effect. The second word in all caps is also God and it is also spoken by the narrator but in the poem, God is capitalized properly in the second line. God is capitalized properly because it is God who is referring to himself so he doesn't see himself as an "oh my gosh!" effect. The last word to be capitalized, yet, is capitalized for the emphasis on how far off this person is from being able to do God's job.
ReplyDeleteWhat I got out of this poem is that people in general do better with God in control of their lives. When a person tries to control his or her life, they have no idea what they are doing and make a mess out of things. When God gives the narrator control, this is his way of kindly showing the narrator that he cannot live life on his own and he needs God's help. God puts up with our nonsense and our "asking for the wheel" and then corrects us by "taking the wheel back" after we realize that "the wheel" is too much to handle. The poem shows God's kindness because he shows the narrator WHY he can't have the wheel by allowing the narrator to take it, instead of just saying "NO, you CAN'T have it" with no explanation.
ReplyDeleteI think this poem is trying to say, if anybody was given a position to do and they have never done, they would be unprepared and totally confused.
ReplyDeleteBouncing of of what Christy said about captialization, I began to think about the differences of GOD and God. In the Bible, GOD or THE LORD (in all caps) is used to represent the hebrew word Yahweh (technically, it's just the consonants YHWH). Yahweh is like God's proper name, the name that refers to his divine and all powerful nature.
ReplyDeleteIt's very possible that Silverstein uses this to highlight even more the differences, though not the unpreparedness, but rather the gap in power and ability. Sort of like, anyonecan be /a/ basketball player, but no one else can be Lebron James or Michael Jordan but themselves.
i agree that this poem can be interpreted in many differnt ways. One cant just jump into something without gaining the proper experience first. And no one can compare to God so there is no worth trying.
ReplyDeleteAnd wouldnt god have alredy known that the guy would be like that? maybe thats what the author is portraying, the simplicity of the human mind and its inability to think of things that are completely and indefinitely beyond itself.
ReplyDelete-Jonathan Smith
God already knows everything and he knows that the boy will ask so many questions. Therefore, god wants to teach the boy a lesson.
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