Purpose

In early spring I listened to a really fascinating podcast with Jaquline Freeman about her book Song of Increase on the Moonwise podcast. There was one part that has stuck with me and I always think about it when I feel grumbly about some mundane task that must get done that I have to do because no one else is going to do it. The author said that with bees, they will go about their task because it is for the good of the bee and for the hive, without grumbling. And that there are plenty of tasks that must be done, but the bee balances them all calmly and efficiently and with purpose.

I don’t know. I just liked it.

I also really liked this poem by Antonio Machado that I read today:

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.  

(Antonio Machado, translated by Robert Bly)

Anoche cuando dormía 
soñé, ¡bendita ilusión!, 
que una colmena tenía 
dentro de mi corazón; 
y las doradas abejas 
iban fabricando en él, 
con las amarguras viejas 
blanca cera y dulce miel.</font>

Here is a link to the full poem.

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