Abou Ben Adhem

Leigh Hunt

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 had made Ben Adhem bold
And to the presence in the room he said,

'What writest thou?'---The visions rais'd its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answer'd, 'The names of those who love the Lord.'

'And is mine one?' asked Abou. 'Nay, not so.'
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, 'I pray for thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men.'

The angel wrote, and vanish'd. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And show'd the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.