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
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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?
November 19, 2009 at 1:56 am
I had learnt this poem in 6th std, few days back while reading a book I came across this poem’s reference and suddenly the familiar name of Abu Ben Adam striked me. Felt really good after reading it.
June 13, 2010 at 10:42 pm
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August 17, 2010 at 4:45 pm
I learnde this poem in grade school, along with “Trees’ ‘The Burial Of Moses’ and ‘Horatio at the Bridge” Loved it/them then and still do today, I am now in my seventies.
November 12, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I wonder if anyone knows a story about “the night it rained” (bunch of kids stuck in a barn in Kansas – about 1964)
December 9, 2010 at 2:42 pm
I just read Abou Ben Adam again after 50 years and cried. Very few poems or stories have its impact. It reminds me of a story with a similar ending: The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde. I defy anyone who is a lover of mankind to read this without tears.
January 28, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Abou was first shown to me by my father when I was a little girl (55yrs ago) I loved it then and stil do and tell evryone about it. It is filled with love. I hope it gives many more people lots of enjoyment.
April 9, 2011 at 10:39 pm
My mother recited this to me as she lulled me to sleep. It has become the precept by which I live my life.
May 4, 2011 at 1:23 pm
I had to memorize this poem in English
class in eighth grade, it is my favorite
poem, I thought that I would never memorize
it, but of all the poems we had to learn
I still remember this and love it almost
50 yrs. later.
August 31, 2011 at 9:06 am
My Grandfather made me memorize this poem when I was a young girl, and 20 yrs later, I still remember it…still so poignant…Thank you for posting it…
November 13, 2011 at 8:22 am
I memorized this poem in the sixth grade. I can recite. It was only this year many, many years later that I learned he was an historical person…
March 21, 2012 at 6:26 pm
I had to memorize this poem in 3rd or 4th grade. Every once in a while it comes back to me,but I couldn’t remember it word for word. It makes me sad that this could not be taught in schools in the US today. Thank you for this site.
April 8, 2012 at 4:50 pm
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[…]Abou Ben Adam « Right out of nowhere..[…]…
May 20, 2012 at 1:32 am
I have loved this poem too since I was a child
May 25, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Thank you very much. I learned this poem in second grade in Jamaica way back in the 60s and had forgotten the lines.I always recite the poem up to the middle section but could not go further but now I’m so happy I found it again ,thanks so very much.
L.Murray
Jamaica
May 29, 2012 at 4:38 pm
My father lived by this poem. Had a framed copy on the wall.
June 8, 2012 at 6:34 pm
I learned this poem in grammer school in Nova Scotia in the mid 40’s. It kind of stays with me. I loved it then and and always wil.
July 16, 2012 at 4:45 pm
My mother taught me this poem 50 years ago. I loved it then and still love it now. It is beautiful both in message and in musical form.
Dorinda
September 9, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Hi there! This article could not be written any better! Looking through this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
He always kept talking about this. I’ll send this article to him. Fairly certain he’ll have a very good read.
Many thanks for sharing!
September 13, 2012 at 11:36 am
very wonderful
November 4, 2012 at 11:35 pm
heard Smt Jaya Row recite this poem in her talk “Invest in Yourself” really a wonderful poetry which should be made compulsory in India no comparisons at all for this wonderful masterpiece
April 8, 2013 at 4:35 am
my husband is 75 and knew it so I have printed it out as I had not heard of it before
October 14, 2013 at 12:42 pm
This poem is and always will be special to me….
November 24, 2013 at 1:12 am
I remember as a young child memorizing this poem in grade school. I loved it then and I love it now. A simple and comforting poem.
August 28, 2014 at 12:42 pm
One of my favourite poems – so humbling. I remember reading this in school assembly 60 years ago and have memorised it ever since and recite it daily. I have requested this poem to be read at my funeral.
August 18, 2015 at 8:11 pm
I was introduced to this poem in the 9th grade. I promptly memorized it for an English class presentation-everybody loved it!
May 5, 2016 at 8:41 pm
My father memorized this poem as a child, for it was customary in schools, and in homes, to provide entertainment by reciting poetry from memory. I recall him reciting it to me and my brothers before I could read– and I still begged to hear it in his 90th year. (He also gave justice to reciting The Cremation of Sam Mcgee. Look it up! Thanks so much for sharing it here. I miss my Dad so much these last 3 years…5/5/2016
December 19, 2017 at 2:50 am
Very good, thanks.
December 28, 2017 at 5:28 am
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May 14, 2018 at 11:38 pm
I think this poem is very sacrilegious, It teaches that all you need to do to be on Gods list is love his fellow man and you will be #1 above everyone else. Doesn’t anyone know anything about the 10 commandments and God. The Greatest commandment is to love God not his fellow man that is the 2nd greatest commandment and without knowing or loving God Abu would not have been in any book of gold at all.
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June 17, 2020 at 7:31 am
I memorized this poem in 5th grade, 83 years ago. Found it on my computer about 10 years ago, and found myself reciting it several this morning while dressing, but thinking I was leaving out some. I was and went looking again and have new copy. I think I will frame this one.
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