On His Blindness by John Milton

On His Blindness

Poem LInk

Jhon 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

Lodged 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.”

Summary: 

A blind poet who wonders how he might utilize his talent to serve God is the poem's speaker. He believes that being blind has rendered him useless and prevented him from achieving his goals. He wonders if God expects him to work in the dark, but a patient voice tells him that God does not require his labour or his abilities. According to the voice, accepting God's will and faith in his favour involves bearing his mild yoke, which is the best way to serve him. The voice also claims that God is a king with thousands of servants who follow his orders and travel both on land and in the water. Finally, the voice says, "Those who only stand and wait also serve God," suggesting that the speaker's faith and patience are sufficient to please God.

• The speaker is a blind poet who wonders how to serve God with his talent
• He feels useless and afraid of God’s judgment for hiding his talent
• He asks if God wants him to work without light
• He hears a voice of patience telling him that God does not need his work or gifts
• The voice says that the best way to serve God is to accept his will and trust his grace
• The voice says that God is a king who has many servants who obey him and travel everywhere
• The voice says that those who only stand and wait also serve God, meaning that the speaker’s faith and patience are enough