Last Night As I Was Sleeping
Poem by Antonio Machado
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.
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| 1. | कल रात जब मैं सो रहा था ~ ( en ) | 12/7/2016 |
| 2. | গতরাতে যখন ঘুমাচ্ছিলাম ।। আন্তনিও মাচাদো ( bn ) | 7/26/2017 |
Read poems about / on: water, spring, sun, night, light, heart, god, dream, sleep
Pure poetry full of froth.
Report ReplyI had a beehive
Report Replyhere inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs, , , , , imagination at its finest.. tony
Hard to define beauty? This is beauty. This is singing.
Report ReplyPlease credit the translator as well. This version is from Times Alone: Selected Poems of Antonio Machado, Translated by Robert Bly.
Report ReplyThere is a good discussion and video reading at http: //writingandhealing.org/last-night-as-i-lay-sleeping
There are other possible translations. The blogger says: The original Spanish word translated as error is illusion and can also be translated as vision. I dreamt – a marvelous vision! – a blessed vision! – that a spring was breaking out in my heart.
But Bly's translation is best known, and adds depth and mystery with the contradiction marvelous error.
Sorry about the duplicate. First-timer's error. I had so much trouble signing on, I didn't think the first one went through.
Please credit the translator as well. This version is from Times Alone: Selected Poems of Antonio Machado, Translated by Robert Bly.
Report ReplyThere is a good discussion and video reading at http: //writingandhealing.org/last-night-as-i-lay-sleeping - There are other possible translations. The blogger says: The original Spanish word translated as error is illusion and can also be translated as vision. I dreamt – a marvelous vision! – a blessed vision! – that a spring was breaking out in my heart.
But Bly's translation is best known, and adds depth and mystery with the contradiction marvelous error.
This is one of the best poem I have read in the recent days, I takes you to the reality from dreams and back to it..
Report ReplyI will try to translate this poem in Hindi.....Loved it...10+++
Report ReplySo simple but so grand. The contradiction - marvelous error - forces us back on on ourselves, and back on his line,
Report Replywe all dream...this one for me is scary one but nice poem
Report ReplyOnly a blessed one has so many beautiful things in his or her heart that the God too is tempted to make it an abode for himself.
Report ReplyI dreamt—marvelous error! —
Report Replythat I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.
Does anyone know where I can find a copy of the original poem? I would like to read in Spanish, the way it was originally written.
Report ReplyAlso, why isn't the translator given credit here? Surely Machado didn't write it in English, did he?
Beautiful poem. D Sacks two verses add more beauty and completion.
Report ReplyBeautiful ending and the dream becomes the dream universal. Excellent.
Report ReplyBeautiful poem. Appreciate the effort of translators who bring so much from other language literatures.
Report ReplyMissing last two verses:
Report ReplyIs my soul asleep?
Have those beehives that labor
at night stopped? And the water
wheel of thought,
is it dry, the cups empty,
wheeling, carrying only shadows?
No my soul is not asleep.
It is awake, wide awake.
It neither sleeps nor dreams, but watches,
its clear eyes open,
far-off things, and listens
at the shores of the great silence.
Thank you for this. I have not seen two other verses before.
This is my favorite blog which i like most.http: //poemhunter.com/poem/last-night-as-i-was-sleeping/
Report ReplyThank you, whoever did, for having sent such a beautiful poem, specially in Spanish, though the translation is good. Don´t miss all Antonio Machado, readers.
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