Musings Along Lifes Way: "Last Night"

Dear Friends,
This week I found a beautiful poem. It is Robert Bly's translation of Antonio Machado's "Last Night." Especially dear for me is the second stanza where "golden bees" are "making white combs and sweet honey from my old failures. " We tend to think of our failures as great flaws, things that should not have happened -- for which we are responsible. How liberating to think of those failures as the basic stuff of life, the building blocks our sweetness and light. It is wonderful to know of this forgiveness which turns everything around. Here is the complete poem:

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 bee hive 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.

I hope you enjoyed it.

Love, David