Since Milton was not born blind, it is likely that in his youth, he used his sense of sight to observe the world, interact within the confines of society, and as his sight faded, use his hands and pen to right the wrongs he previously observed. "Talent," then, is likely to mean his active poetry and what the word can do, over time, to en-lighten the ignorant (in the true sense of "not knowing.") Thus -- "And that one talent which is death to hid//Lodg'd with me useless, though my soul more bent//to serve there with my Maker, and present//My true account."
Similarly, Milton was famous for imbibing his work with punny wordplay, not as obvious to the modern reader as it was during his time, but nevertheless apparent. In the opening of the poem, for instance, Milton used the word "spent" -- a word evolving from "to spin," "to weigh," "pensive," "ponder," or even "spend." All these derivations are appropriate when reading the rest of the context of the poem. While it is obvious that "darkness" means blindness, when taken in the context of Milton's life, knowing how deeply religious he was, "darkness" at the time meaning sinfulness and ignorance (Labriola 2006, p. 167).
Technically, Milton replaced the rather...
Paragraphical in nature, it is simple and eloquent, but one of the more classical examples of why poetry -- each word chosen carefully and placed in an artful location, becomes synergistically greater than the individual words (Corns, ed., 2003).
In any case, the pathos of the poem is a clear indication of some self-doubt, but hope. The message of self-actualization, combined with the nature of the relationship between humans and their Creator, then, outshines all, and, for Milton, it is not only appropriate, but indeed dutiful, to strive towards using one's own best gifts to both the glory of self and God.
WORKS CONSULTED
Corns, T., ed. (2003). A Companion to Milton. Oxford University Press.
"John Milton." (2008). Enotes. Cited in:
http://www.enotes.com/literary-criticism/milton-john
Labriola, a. (2006). Milton Studies, Volume 46. University of Pittsburgh Press.
Lace, W. (2005). Elizabethan England. Lucent Books.
