They Also Serve After John Milton On His Blindness Poem by Jonathan ROBIN

'They also serve, who only stand and wait'
survivor said, regretting others' fate.

'They also serve who wait without the gate'
time-server said, observing patron's gait.

'What service, light denied, anticipate? '
'Light - despite paradoxical life's plate! '

They're served, who only put on weight, expand,
whose judgement lies, so heavy on the land.

They swerve from justice, who, with heavy hand,
pervert the law, - for which they should be damned.

They wait, who only seem to serve and stand,
beware! a revolution is at hand.

To stand and wait in life to some seems nice
to taste of time, like salad, lacking spice!

(28 March 1981 revised 7 August 2007)