On His Blindness

by

John Milton 

When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies: "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts: who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait."

John Milton (1608 - 1674) was one of the finest poets of English,  considered second only to William Shakespeare (and even surpassing him for some). Milton is most famous for his religious and political works, especially his magnum opus Paradise Lost, an epic work consisting of over ten thousand lines of verse, describing the story of the fall of man from the Garden of Eden. 

Despite becoming blind at the age of 44, Milton continued writing and wrote many of his most famous poems after the disability. In the sonnet On His Blindness, Milton laments that due to his lost sight he could not do much work in the world to please God and wonders whether God requires his labour in the first place; he then contradicts himself by saying that God does not need anyone's labour as He is master of all, and will judge everyone on the basis of the abilities that He has given them, whether they be numerous or none at all. Like the last line says 'They also serve who only stand and wait'.

For a better explanation of the poem, click here.