When I Consider How My Light Is Spent

John Milton 1608 (Cheapside) – 1674 (Chalfont St Giles)



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.”

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on May 01, 2023

35 sec read
104

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBACBBADEFDEF
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 648
Words 117
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14

John Milton

John Milton was the Secretary of State of Georgia from 1777 to 1799. more…

All John Milton poems | John Milton Books

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