ON HIS BLINDNESS
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, to
present
My true account, 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
This
is one of the most famous sonnets (14-line poem} In English literature. The poet
John Milton (1608—1674) who was ambitious of writing an epic” Paradise Lost” to
justify the ways of God to man and had the ability to fulfil this ambition lost his eyesight before half of his age. He
regarded it a big obstacle. Writing of poetry was the only talent with which he could serve God. Now God would scold
him when he goes back to Him without utilizing this talent. However he finds an
solution to this problem. The first is that he should have Patience to overcome
his disability. This helps. He does succeed in writing the intended epic . Besides
this, , he realises that God does not punish those persons who become disabled and
fail to do the work assigned to them . God is not short of workers. He has countless people to serve Him. What God
actually wants is man’s genuine willingness to obey Him. Practical performance
is not the issue.
Milton ends his sonnet
with the famous quotation :” They also serve Him who stand and wait.”
*******
G.R.Kanwal
12th October 2023
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