John Milton (1608–1674) was Cromwell’s Secretary for Foreign Tongues (chief translator for England, in other words), despite the fact that he was totally blind by 1652. He produced Paradise Lost, the English language’s great epic poem, in 1667, despite the fact that he could not see. His Latin writings are possibly the best since the Renaissance. His early verse has never faded from the canon of English poetry. His writings on free speech are still quoted. He remains a towering figure in literature — though he did not often address his personal situation in his verse.

On his blindness, for example, one starts with “When I consider how my light is spent,” c. 1655. A Petrarchan sonnet (sometimes given the title “On His Blindness” by later anthologists), the poem turns his lack of sight to a religious question, “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?” If God gives us talents that we do wrong to waste, what are we to do when we can no longer use those talents? And Milton comes to his famous conclusion, the religiously exact — and exacting — realization that “They also serve who only stand and wait.” A poem for Milton’s December 9 birthday.

Sonnet 19: When I consider how my light is spent
by John 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.”

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With “Poem of the Day,” The New York Sun offers a daily portion of verse selected by Joseph Bottum with the help of the North Carolina poet Sally Thomas, the Sun’s associate poetry editor. Tied to the day, or the season, or just individual taste, the poems will be typically drawn from the lesser-known portion of the history of English verse. In the coming months we will be reaching out to contemporary poets for examples of current, primarily formalist work, to show that poetry can still serve as a delight to the ear, an instruction to the mind, and a tonic for the soul.