My friend Dorian who is a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary sent me these sonnets last year. I’m pondering them, in light of editing my life.

Sonnet 19:

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,
Lodg’d with me useless, though my Soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, let 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 his 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.

Sonnet 7

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 show’th.

Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth,
That I to manhood am arriv’d so near,
And inward ripeness doth much less appear,
That some more timely-happy spirits spirits endu’th.

Yes be it less or more, or soon or slow,
It shall be still in strictest measure ev’n
To that same lot, however mean or high,

Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heav’n;
All is, if I have grace to use it so,
As ever in my great task-Master’s eye.