The poem, Abou Ben Adhem...
Illustration
The poem, Abou Ben Adhem, by Leigh Hunt tells of a man awakening and
seeing an angel writing in a golden book. He asks what is being written and is told, "The
names of those who love the Lord." The poem continues:
"And is mine one?" said Abou, "Nay, not so," replied the angel.
-- Abou spoke more low, but cheerily still; and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loved his fellow men."
The angel wrote and vanished. The next night,
It came again, with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed:
And, Lo! Ben Adem's name led all the rest.
"And is mine one?" said Abou, "Nay, not so," replied the angel.
-- Abou spoke more low, but cheerily still; and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loved his fellow men."
The angel wrote and vanished. The next night,
It came again, with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed:
And, Lo! Ben Adem's name led all the rest.
