The Morning Reading: "sweet honey from my old failures"

Last night, as I was sleeping
Antonio Machado
(trans. by Robert Bly)

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.

Last night, as I slept,
I dreamt -- marvelous error!—
that it was God I had
here inside my heart.


*
(with thanks to Larry Ruth)
*
(image: detail from Picasso's "Sleeping Woman")

*