Comments & Greek painters, Greek artists: I don't know which poet, noble and divine, joined the sorrow of the eternal wheel...

Poetry & Greek painting, Greek artists, Greek painters


Yannis Stavrou, Spring in Attica, oil on canvas

I dreamt -- marvelous error!—
that a spring was breaking
out in my heart...

Antonio Machado

Last night, as I was sleeping

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.


Antonio Machado (1875-1939)

The Waterwheel

Evening fell
sad and dusty.

The water was singing
its rustic verse
in the pockets
of the weary water wheel.

The mule was dreaming
-- poor old mule! --
to the rhythm of shadows
drowsing in the water.

Evening fell
sad and dusty.

I don't know which poet,
noble and divine,
joined the sorrow
of the eternal wheel

to the sweet music
of the sleepy water
and covered your eyes
-- poor old mule!

It must have been a poet,
noble and divine,
a heart matured
by nighttime and knowledge.