Making honey from past failures

In an earlier post I wrote a poem about our need to be loved and suggested that we want to feel an unconditional love hold us, know our failings but never mention them, make them of no account.

The Spanish poet Antonio Machado wrote the poem “Last Night As I Was Sleeping” in which he imagines that there are honey bees inside his heart busy making honey of his old failures. Its such a lovely image and one that speaks so much of the love of God that its hard to forget.

The full text of the poem (translated by Robert Bly) can be seen below. It may be of interest that in another translation, that provided by Armand Baker, the term “old failures” is translated as “old bitterness”.

Last Night As I Was Sleeping

Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt—marvellous 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—marvellous 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—marvellous 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—marvellous error!—
that it was God I had
here inside my heart.

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