last night as i was sleeping

Antonio Machado’s “Last Night As I Was Sleeping” in a literal sense, is a poem

depicting one man’s dreams throughout the night. However, upon a closer examination

of the literature, one will find the poem to be more an expression of the deeper current of

life, often only experienced at night through one’s own dreams. Furthermore, the poem

hopes to awaken the reader to this current in hopes of bringing about a change in the way

we view reality. Metaphor, imagery and repeated themes are used throughout the poem

with the ultimate intent of awakening the human spirit to itself.

Where do we go when we sleep, and for what purpose do we sleep? This is the

illustrious idea posed by “Last Night As I Was Sleeping.” Antonio Machado suggests

that perhaps our true life is that of the one experienced in our unconscious state of sleep.

Machado uses metaphors and symbols to reveal the experiences of the dreams to that of

the conscious life. The first stanza speaks of “a spring (that) was breaking out in my

heart…” (3-4). This “water of life” is not literally the leakage of water from one’s heart,

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Another theme repeated

throughout the peom is that of the heart.

The second stanza is particularly hopeful with its symbolism and metaphor towards the

bees.

The poem “Last Night As I Was Sleeping” is a poem meant to awaken the senses

to the deeper current of life that is so often neglected in our daily lives.

Machado suggests that all the worries of the life are meaningless, and all one truly needs

in life is God inside his heart. The “secret aqueduct” (5) which carries the water suggests

that the spring is not in your own heart, but is carried there by some unknown source

(God). This idea too can be viewed as a biblical illusion, again suggesting the presence

of God in the dreams. ditional metaphor for the rebirth and baptism into a new life. The second and third stanzas repeat these metaphors between dreams and life. ” While reading this stanza the reader also feels the

heat of a fire upon his own face, and the glowing light of the sun. Nearly every line is a phrase that conjures an image to

accompany it. Lines 11-16 are very powerful, and almost break open an entirely new way of

viewing life.

. “It was fiery because I felt warmth, as from a hearth, and sun because it gave

light and brought tears to my eyes. The heart represents the very life of the person,

and is vital to the development of the peom, and the awakening of the heart.

Approximate Word count = 995
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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