ABU BEN ADHEM

Abou Ben Adhem may his tribe increase
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace
And saw within the moonlight in his room
making it rich and like a lily in bloom
An angel writing in a book of gold.


Exceeding peace made Ben Adhem bold
And to the presence in the room he
said "what writest thou?"
The vision raised its head and with a look
made of all sweet accord,
answered "the names of those who love the Lord."


Is mine one said Abou?"
"Nay not so" replied the angel.
Abou spoke more low but cheerily still he
said,
"I pray thee then write me as
one who loves his fellow men."


The angel wrote and vanished.
The next night it came again, with a great
awakening light
and showed the names whom love of God had blessed
and lo, Ben Adhem's name led all of the rest.

-Leigh Hunt (1784-1859)