Monthly Peace In A Poem – Abou Ben Adhem

From: Angel of Peace (Boston: American Peace Society) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In support of Bloggers for Peace, I want to share some of my favorite poems monthly, along with some of the peace that reading them brings to me.

This particular poem is quite famous, and I have loved it for many years.

If you have never heard of Abou Ben Adhem, then I am very pleased to introduce him to YOU. 🙂

Read poetry slowly, out loud when possible.  Savor the words.  Namaste.

xo Rufina

Abou Ben Adhem

Poem by 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 vision 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?’ said Abou.  ‘Nay, not so,’

Replied the angel.  Abou spoke more low,

But cheerly still; and said, ‘I pray 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.

About the Poet:  James Henry Leigh Hunt (19 October 1784 – 28 August 1859), best known as Leigh Hunt, was an English critic, essayist, poet and writer. The Wit in the Dungeon is a biography.