Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribeIncrease)
Awoke, one night, from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it tich, 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 Angel raised his head,
And with a voice, that made Ben Adhem start,
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"
Replied the Angel.
"Write me then," said Abou, "as one that loves his fellow-men."
The Angel wrote, and vanished.
The next night It came again
With a great wakening light, and shewed the names
Whom love of God had blessed,
And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.
Awoke, one night, from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it tich, 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 Angel raised his head,
And with a voice, that made Ben Adhem start,
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"
Replied the Angel.
"Write me then," said Abou, "as one that loves his fellow-men."
The Angel wrote, and vanished.
The next night It came again
With a great wakening light, and shewed the names
Whom love of God had blessed,
And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.