In John Milton’s poem, “When I Consider How My Light Is Spent,” we see Milton use the Petrarchan Sonnet form to talk about something other than strictly love. In 1652, Milton completely lost vision in both eyes, a devastating ailment to have, especially as an author. In this sonnet the narrator is clearly meant to be Milton himself as he considers how he’s spent the time he’s had with vision, and wonders what he will do with it gone. This sonnet, like much of his work, has a highly religious undertone, with him asking God if he still must work while blind and receiving answers from a spirit of Patience, which tells him God requires no mans labor, blind or no. What I found particularly interesting about this poem is that Milton was famously in favor of religious freedom, and spent much of his time fighting for these principals. Though he himself was Catholic and had a deep interest in the Bible, he believed that State-Sanctioned religion was against the will of God. In this poem when he asks if he is still expected to do the Lord’s work once blind, he likely isn’t strictly referencing his work on poetry like “Paradise Lost,” but instead more broadly referencing the political work he did with Oliver Cromwell. It seems to me the answer he is given is that if he is patient, the work will happen on its own. In the last three lines Patience tells Milton that “Thousands at his bidding speed / And post o’er land and ocean without rest: / They also serve who only stand and wait.” (lines 12-14), meaning that God as many followers that tirelessly spread his word to all, not just those who are constantly in action. In this poem, Milton gives himself permission to rest.