'On His Blindness' _ John Milton

On His Blindness
By John Milton (1608-1674)

Text

When I consider how my light is spent¹
Ere half my days²in this dark world and wide
And that one talent³which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless,⁴though my soul more bent
To serve therewith⁵my Maker, and present
My true account,⁶lest he returning chide;
"Doth God exact⁷day labor, light denied?"
I fondly⁸ask. But Patience,⁹to prevent
That murmur, soon replies,^."God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts.¹⁰Who best
Bear his mild yoke,¹¹they serve him best. His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed,^.
And post¹²o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait.¹³

Notes

1....light is spent: This clause presents a double meaning: (a) how I spend my days, (b) how it is that my sight is used up.
2....Ere half my days: Before half my life is over. Milton was completely blind by 1652, the year he turned 44.
3....talent:  See Line 3: Key to the Meaning.
4....useless: Unused.
5....therewith: By that means, by that talent; with it
6....account: Record of accomplishment; worth
7....exact: Demand, require
8....fondly: Foolishly, unwisely
9....Patience: Milton personifies patience, capitalizing it and having it speak. 
10..God . . . gifts: God is sufficient unto Himself. He requires nothing outside of Himself to exist and be happy.
11. yoke: Burden, workload.
12. post: Travel.

Summary:

When Milton become blind. He began to think about his fate. He felt very sad that he became blind even before he could complete half of his life. The world became dark and wide. What pained him most is that his talent as a poet could not be used. As he became blind, it was difficult for him to read and write. He had hoped write many poems, but the chance was lost. On the day of judgment, when all the souls will meet God. Milton wishes to present all his work to God and prove that he has made the best use of the talent that God had given him. But blindness denied him that chance. In agony and anger, Milton questions God - if He wanted Milton to use his talent of writing poetry, why did God take away his sight ???
After sometime, the Goddess of patience answered his question. She said, God doesn't want man's work or his gifts. The people who accept god and his decisions willingly and cheerfully, they are the best servants to god. God has many angles to serve him: man and his work are nothing before them. Only those who stand and wait patiently, who bear their problems without any murmuring, they serve god the best.

Style of the Poem:

Written in the style of Petrarchan sonnet with fourteen lines.

First stanza consists of eight line (Octave) 

and Second stanza of six lines (Sestet).

Rhyme scheme:

 ABBA,ABBA,CDE CDE.