Abu Ben Adhem
Stanza 1
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.
Paraphrase:
One night Abou Ben Adhem awoke from a peaceful dream. He saw an angel
in the moonlight in his room, It was like a lily flower with full bloom. It was
writing something in its golden book.
Stanza 2
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the presence 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”.
Paraphrase:
The most peaceful atmosphere made the Ben Adhem bold and he asked the
angel that what was he writing in the book. The angel raised its head and
with an agreeable look answered that he was writing the names of those
people who loved the God.
Stanza 3
“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.”
Paraphrase:
Abou Ben Adhem asked about his name. The angel answered that his name
was not in it. Abou Ben Adhem spoke humbly but in a happy mood I request
you to write is name among those people who love their fellow beings.
Stanza 4
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And Lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.
Paraphrase:
The angel wrote his name and disappeared. It came again in the next night
with a great wakening light and showed him the names of those people
whom God blest with his love. And look! Ben Adhem's name was on the top
in the list.
