Last Night As I Was Sleeping Poem by Antonio Machado

Last Night As I Was Sleeping

Rating: 3.9


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.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
D Sacks 24 November 2013

Missing last two verses: Is 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.

19 3 Reply
Edie Stone 23 March 2017

Thank you for this. I have not seen two other verses before.

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Claudia Moline 05 May 2006

Thank 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.

7 2 Reply
Edie Stone 23 March 2017

Please credit the translator as well. This version is from Times Alone: Selected Poems of Antonio Machado, Translated by Robert Bly. There 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.

4 0 Reply
Edie Stone 23 March 2017

Sorry about the duplicate. First-timer's error. I had so much trouble signing on, I didn't think the first one went through.

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Sylvia Frances Chan 31 August 2024

MY LAST RESPONSE: CONGRATS BEING chosen by POEM HUNTER and TEAM as The Modern Poem Of The Day! 5 Stars

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Sylvia Frances Chan 31 August 2024

FINAL COMMENT: and finally, God—to symbolize the speaker's inner renewal and the potential for profound change and joy. TOP Marks!

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Sylvia Frances Chan 31 August 2024

This poem is a dreamlike meditation on the transformative power of love, hope, and inspiration. Each stanza presents a different metaphorical image—a spring, a beehive, a sun,

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Femi Ogunlude 14 May 2024

He does not believe the revelations of his dreams i.e the transformative realities he often refers to as marvelous errors- too real to be true. He probably feels is undeserving of God in his heart owing to his imperfections as a human. God's love for us is unconditional regardless.

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Sylvia Frances Chan 14 May 2024

Congratulations for the Modern Poem Of The Day. Most deserving poem!

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