Poet's Corner

"Sonnet 7 [On His Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-three]"

John Milton

Poem explanation

1    How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth,



     Stol'n on his wing my three-and-twentieth year!



     My hasting days fly on with full career,



     But my late spring no bud or blossom shew'th. 





5    Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth



     That I to manhood am arrived so near;



     And inward ripeness doth much less appear, 



     That some more timely-happy spirits endu'th.





     Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow,



10   It shall be still in strictest measure even



     To that same lot, however mean or high,



     Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heaven; 



     All is, if I have grace to use it so,



     As ever in my great Task-Master's eye.  

Source: Exploring Poetry, Gale, 1997.