A poem I have loved since 8th standard/grade when I first read it.. For its sheer ability to combine rhyme with continuity AND the charm one associates with poetry, though not necessarily metaphorical..
Abou ben Adam
Abou ben Adam (may his tribe increase!)
awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight of his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
an angel, writing in a book of of gold.
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adam bold,
And to the Prescence 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.”
“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 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 blest,
And lo! Ben adam’s name led all the rest.
- Leigh Hunt
February 5, 2008 at 7:37 am
I had read it first in class 2 or 3. I had loved it. I still love it.
February 5, 2008 at 9:52 am
Some poems leave a lasting impression, and I havent found any after this one, yet!
February 6, 2008 at 8:16 pm
this one and the solitary reaper are among the oldest memories of poems… of course except the rhymes!
July 4, 2008 at 8:39 am
I love this poem. When I was just a boy in grade school, my mother found it in the book of knowledge and taught it to me. After I learned it well, I recited it before the class at school
July 14, 2008 at 2:36 am
My Mother taught me to memorize this poem to recite in Sunday School at the age of 6 or 7. I Love It.
July 17, 2008 at 9:55 am
I memorized this when I was young, as well, back when the earth was cooling…
I believe the correct transliteration of the title is ‘Abou ben Adhem’ not Adam.
January 15, 2009 at 4:08 am
This was – and, still is – my favouraite poem since the time I learned it in my schhol in Mumbai, India. The simplicity in stle and the profoundness in its thought are heart-warming. In today’s world torn by reckless religious fanaticism causing untold human misery, the poem’s message is soothing.
January 15, 2009 at 4:09 am
This was – and, still is – my favouraite poem since the time I learned it in my school in Mumbai, India. The simplicity in stle and the profoundness in its thought are heart-warming. In today’s world torn by reckless religious fanaticism causing untold human misery, the poem’s message is soothing.
April 15, 2009 at 7:45 am
Not that I’m impressed a lot, but this is a lot more than I expected when I stumpled upon a link on Digg telling that the info here is quite decent. Thanks.
April 15, 2009 at 8:58 am
Link on Digg?? Can you please share that link, if not for anything, just to satisfy my ego?