Guest guest Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 A week end poem from Ivan for meditation. Here's your Daily Poem from the Poetry Chaikhana -- Last night, as I was sleeping By Antonio Machado(1875 - 1939) English version by Robert Bly Last night, as I was sleeping,I dreamt -- marvelous error! that a spring was breakingout in my heart.I said: Along which secret aqueduct,Oh water, are you coming to me,water of a new lifethat I have never drunk? Last night, as I was sleeping,I dreamt -- marvelous error! that I had a beehivehere inside my heart.And the golden beeswere making white combsand sweet honeyfrom my old failures. Last night, as I was sleeping,I dreamt -- marvelous error! that a fiery sun was givinglight inside my heart.It was fiery because I feltwarmth as from a hearth,and sun because it gave lightand brought tears to my eyes. Last night, as I slept,I dreamt -- marvelous error! that it was God I hadhere inside my heart. -- from Times Alone: Selected Poems of Antonio Machado, Translated by Robert Bly Amazon.com / Photo by sammydavisdog / ============ Thought for the Day: Life and death are a given.It is what we do with them that matters. ============ Here's your Daily Music selection -- Kalyan Pathak & Jayho Jazzmata The Shape of Ragazz to Come... Listen - Purchase More Music Selections Hi Alan -This is my favorite poem by the Spanish poet Antonio Machado. Actually, it's one of my favorite poems, period.It speaks so richly for itself that no commentary is necessary to be caught in its spell, but I want to point out how strongly it suggests the mystic's ecstatic experience...In the poem, Machado discovers continual delights in his heart. In the ecstatic state, the heart seems to expand, filling with a joy that encompasses everything.The spring "breaking out" in his heart, running along a "secret aqueduct," bringing "water of new life" -- this is often part of sacred ecstasy. Mystics often experience a sensation of drinking some unknown liquid that warms the heart and fills you with a sense of life you hadn't known before.This "drink" is perceived as being sweet, eliciting comparisons to honey or wine. Thus, Machado discovers "white combs / and sweet honey" in his heart.In such overwhelming delight you feel radically whole. All past guilts and "failures" seem somehow resolved, transformed into the very matter that this joy is built upon.In this blissful state, you are also filled with an awareness of light and a great warmth that permeates your whole body, like a "fiery sun."Indeed, caught up in this experience, how can you doubt that it is God you have inside your heart?--Have a beautiful weekend! And thank you to the couple of people who donated to the Poetry Chaikhana this week!Ivan Share Your Thoughts on today's poem or my commentary... New on the Poetry Chaikhana BlogIn addition to the daily poem, other recent blog posts include: Movie - Kashf: The Unveiling - Comments (2) "Takes us on a journey exploring the mystical side of Islam." More The Tale of the Sands - Comments (2) Encountering the desert, a stream must remember its true nature in order to pass beyond it. Our greatest difficulties become our most profound teachers. More Top 100 Poetry Blogs - Comments (3) I just got word that the Poetry Chaikhana Blog is listed in the Top 100 Poetry Blogs complied by Online University Reviews. More Donations to the Poetry ChaikhanaI want to send out a sincere thank you to each one of you who contributed some of your hard-earned money recently:- Rebecca (GA), Gary (CA)- No new rs this weekI am so grateful for each and every contribution. Your support makes a big difference in maintaining the Poetry Chaikhana..---A few reasons to consider making a donation of your own... The brief 'Thought for the Day' says just the right thing some days. Donating feels good! A monthly donation with PayPal is easy -- just set it up once and then the work is done for you. The Poetry Chaikhana opens pathways for interfaith dialog and exploration. Even a small donation helps -- when many people contribute. Support the Poetry Chaikhana Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana in any amount are always welcome. Thank you! Click here You can also support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you! Click here A small amount each month makes a big difference. Become a voluntary Subscriber for just $2/mo. Click here Help the Poetry Chaikhana reach more people. Become a Supporter for just $10/mo. Poetry Chaikhana HomeNew | Books | Music | Teahouse | About | ContactPoets by: Name| Tradition | Timeline Poetry by: Theme | CommentaryBlog | Forum | Facebook | Twitter www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com Poetry ChaikhanaP.O. Box 2320Boulder, CO 80306 Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers. ============ Plain Text: If you have any difficulty reading this HTML formatted email, please let me know and I can send you plain text emails instead. Cancelling: If you wish to stop receiving this Daily Poem email from the Poetry Chaikhana, simply reply to this email and change the Subject to "Cancel". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 That is so beautiful Alan. I love the last paragraph. Yours in Bhagavan Harsha Last night, as I was sleeping By Antonio Machado (1875 - 1939) English version 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 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. / Photo by sammydavisdog / On Behalf Of Alan Jacobs Friday, May 29, 2009 12:22 PM Antonio Machado - Last night, as I was sleeping A week end poem from Ivan for meditation. Here's your Daily Poem from the Poetry Chaikhana -- ============ Thought for the Day: Life and death are a given. It is what we do with them that matters. ============ Here's your Daily Music selection -- Kalyan Pathak & Jayho Jazzmata The Shape of Ragazz to Come... Listen - Purchase More Music Selections Hi Alan - This is my favorite poem by the Spanish poet Antonio Machado. Actually, it's one of my favorite poems, period. It speaks so richly for itself that no commentary is necessary to be caught in its spell, but I want to point out how strongly it suggests the mystic's ecstatic experience... In the poem, Machado discovers continual delights in his heart. In the ecstatic state, the heart seems to expand, filling with a joy that encompasses everything. The spring " breaking out " in his heart, running along a " secret aqueduct, " bringing " water of new life " -- this is often part of sacred ecstasy. Mystics often experience a sensation of drinking some unknown liquid that warms the heart and fills you with a sense of life you hadn't known before. This " drink " is perceived as being sweet, eliciting comparisons to honey or wine. Thus, Machado discovers " white combs / and sweet honey " in his heart. In such overwhelming delight you feel radically whole. All past guilts and " failures " seem somehow resolved, transformed into the very matter that this joy is built upon. In this blissful state, you are also filled with an awareness of light and a great warmth that permeates your whole body, like a " fiery sun. " Indeed, caught up in this experience, how can you doubt that it is God you have inside your heart? -- Have a beautiful weekend! And thank you to the couple of people who donated to the Poetry Chaikhana this week! Ivan Share Your Thoughts on today's poem or my commentary... New on the Poetry Chaikhana Blog In addition to the daily poem, other recent blog posts include: Movie - Kashf: The Unveiling - Comments (2) " Takes us on a journey exploring the mystical side of Islam. " More The Tale of the Sands - Comments (2) Encountering the desert, a stream must remember its true nature in order to pass beyond it. Our greatest difficulties become our most profound teachers. More Top 100 Poetry Blogs - Comments (3) I just got word that the Poetry Chaikhana Blog is listed in the Top 100 Poetry Blogs complied by Online University Reviews. More Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana I want to send out a sincere thank you to each one of you who contributed some of your hard-earned money recently: - Rebecca (GA), Gary (CA) - No new rs this week I am so grateful for each and every contribution. Your support makes a big difference in maintaining the Poetry Chaikhana.. --- A few reasons to consider making a donation of your own... The brief 'Thought for the Day' says just the right thing some days. Donating feels good! A monthly donation with PayPal is easy -- just set it up once and then the work is done for you. The Poetry Chaikhana opens pathways for interfaith dialog and exploration. Even a small donation helps -- when many people contribute. Support the Poetry Chaikhana Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana in any amount are always welcome. Thank you! Click here You can also support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you! Click here A small amount each month makes a big difference. Become a voluntary Subscriber for just $2/mo. Click here Help the Poetry Chaikhana reach more people. Become a Supporter for just $10/mo. Poetry Chaikhana Home New | Books | Music | Teahouse | About | Contact Poets by: Name| Tradition | Timeline Poetry by: Theme | Commentary Blog | Forum | Facebook | Twitter www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com Poetry Chaikhana P.O. Box 2320 Boulder, CO 80306 Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger. All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers. ============ Plain Text: If you have any difficulty reading this HTML formatted email, please let me know and I can send you plain text emails instead. Cancelling: If you wish to stop receiving this Daily Poem email from the Poetry Chaikhana, simply reply to this email and change the Subject to " Cancel " . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.