Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

When I Consider How My Life’s Been Spent

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Glynn Young asked HCB members to consider a poem that “had an impact on you, that you remember, or that you enjoyed, and write a poem about it” as an offering for the group’s Random Acts of Poetry.

“What poem do you come from?” he asked.

I thought and thought and thought and finally chose this poem by John Milton. The last line is my favorite.

When I Consider How My Light is Spent

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 base: 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 (1673)

Milton gradually lost his vision between 1644 and 1652

And here is my, perhaps corny, attempt.

When I Consider How My Life’s Been Spent

When I consider how my life’s been spent

Up to this point in trying hard to meet

The expectations man laid at my feet

And Martha work wore thin this fragile tent,

I long for years that I perceive long lost

While secret passion lay unclaimed, unused

And time that’s given all I fear abused

I didn’t take the time to count the cost.

Then focus clears and now I see anew

My days within His loving hands He holds

My Mary heart finds rest, my burden rolls

I am allowed to be–before I do.

Comments

  1. Michael says

    Okay, wow that was powerful.

    I really appreciate this on a few levels. The first one is that it really lets us into who you are because it has affected you so much. The second is that I have recently fallen in love with poetry and have been consuming it in large amounts. I’ve been looking for more and more to read.

    • Sandra says

      Thanks, Michael. I was a little (a lot?) nervous about posting it.

      I’ve pulled out all my and my husband’s old lit books and poetry books. Bought a volume of Dickinson. I had trouble understanding poetry back in high school–afraid I wouldn’t understand it “right,” I guess. But what a way to say so much with so little–and perhaps even learn to write prose a little tighter.

      I found this site that’s very cool–and there are others if you just google “famous poems.” Maybe you’ve already done that.

      Famous Poems and Poems

  2. Glynn says

    Nothing corny about it — it sounds so much like Miltion that I’m expecting to see Roundheads and Cavaliers appear at any moment. Nice one! (And you got it in right under the wire.)

    • Sandra says

      So I almost didn’t sent it/post it at all because it was so late, and I was so downright scared. 😉

      This was a great idea. I can’t wait to read the rest.

  3. Jay Cookingham says

    Absolutely wonderful…I love Milton! And I love how you responded with your heart.

    Then focus clears and now I see anew

    My days within His loving hands He holds

    My Mary heart finds rest, my burden rolls

    I am allowed to be–before I do.

    That I accept and pray for today!

    • Sandra says

      Thanks, Karin! Don’t you know I had to turn to Milton when you “stole” Frost–which I think is a better “fit” anyway. 🙂

  5. Brenda says

    I love it friend. God is using YOU!! It’s not the number of years or the number of days-it’s how we spend them.

  6. Cassandra Frear says

    How good this is.

    Oh, and one more thing, I love Milton.

    “The superior man acquaints himself with many sayings of antiquity and many deeds of the past, in order to strengthen his character thereby.”
    – John Milton

  7. jerry says

    Oh the blessing if each soul would able to be whilst the doing waits in the wings. From where in Milton do these words come? Thanks, this was a Nice respite from a day full of do’s.

  10. A Simple Country Girl says

    Both of these poetic works stir my soul, both his question and your Mary heart answer. And I will admit that this poet named Milton, he is new to me. Thank you for the lovely introduction.

    Blessings.

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