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
translated from the Spanish by Robert Bly
One of my absolute favorite poems. For those who read Spanish, i will post the Spanish version soon.
It is interesting to note the translation of the phrase "marvelous error." In Spanish, the line reads "bendita ilusion." While the word "ilusion" does include the idea of error, i feel that such a translation excludes some of the other possible meanings found in the word illusion. For me, in reading this poem, i find an element of hope--which i think is central to the piece--that is not captured with the repetition of the word "error." The word "bendita," means blessed or holy. I suggest reading the line as "holy illusion," thus maintaining the feeling of hope while keeping with the tension found in the Spanish version.
Last night, as I slept,
ReplyDeleteI dreamt-- holy illusion!-
that somewhere beyond the reach
of nascent thoughts
and the sting of desire
a moth, trembling, alighted on a flower-
a dazzling familiarity,
and a leaf tumbled
toward an unknowable place of rest
beneath branches, silently barren-
not yet awakened to spring
and the forgiveness of rebirth,
and in buzzing darkness
and in swallowing silence
I dreamt-- holy illusion!-
that the spaces growing between
could be traversed
along the curve
of a sleeping shoulder
and the softly insistent rhythms
of a soul's sleeping breath-
a dazzling familiarity
Wow. A beatiful response...this holy illusion, and dazzling familiarity between the growing spaces...something to think about. Or maybe just feel. Brought quiet tears to the eyes of my heart. Thank you for the comment, voixautre.
ReplyDeletewhen does a dazzling familiarity dissipate into little more than an obligatory acknowledgement?
ReplyDelete