Last night, as I was sleeping
Antonio Machado
Every stanza carries healing. I prefer the Spanish of “blessed illusion” to “marvelous error.” For me springs have always been a magical connection to the earth, through which life flows.
The golden bees transform my regrets.
We are reminded of what, in whatever form, each of us has in our hearts.
Paul Draper
CEO/Winemaker Ridge Vineyards
Last night, as I was sleeping
Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt — marvelous error!—
that a spring was breaking
out in my heart.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
Oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life
that I have never drunk?
Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt — marvelous error!—
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.
Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt — marvelous error!—
that a fiery sun was giving
light inside my heart.
It was fiery because I felt
warmth as from a hearth,
and sun because it gave light
and brought tears to my eyes.
Last night, as I slept,
I dreamt — marvelous error!—
that it was God I had
here inside my heart.
Antonio Machado from Times Alone
Translated by Robert Bly
Santa Clara County Poet Laureate Blog 