“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-labor, 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 wrote this poem in 1655 in the form of a Petrarchan sonnet – a lyric poem of fourteen lines. The theme of this poem is God judges humans on whether they labor for Him with the best of their abilities – this theme stuck in my head all through the poem. The key to the meaning of this poem really is when he alludes to the Parable of Talents in the gospel of Matthew. I enjoyed reading Milton as his prose and poetry contained deep convictions and dealt with the issues that were contemporary.
This particular sonnet begs to be pondered upon and reflection is one of the ways to pay respect to this piece d’art. I begin to wonder – Is my soul more bent to serve therewith my Maker? Do I ever realize that if I bear His yoke, I serve Him best? Prose and poetry that incite thought and carry a very universal quality that stands the test of time, are things of value that my soul seeks after and soaks up.
What are some of your favorite poems? Why?
