Abou Ben Adhem
by James Henry Leigh Hunt
Table of Content
Poem
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 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 cheerly still; and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men."
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.
Introduction
"Abou Ben Adhem" is a narrative poem by Leigh Hunt, first published in 1838. The poem is known for its simple yet profound message about the importance of love and compassion over religious piety.
The main theme of the poem "Abou Ben Adhem" is that true virtue lies in loving and caring for others, with compassion for humanity being a path to divine favor.
The rhyme scheme of "Abou Ben Adhem" by Leigh Hunt follows an AABB pattern throughout the poem. Each pair of consecutive lines rhymes, creating a harmonious and rhythmic flow.
Summary
The poem tells the story of a virtuous man named Abou Ben Adhem. One night, Abou awakens from a peaceful sleep to find an angel in his room, writing in a book of gold. When Abou asks what the angel is writing, the angel replies that it is recording the names of those who love the Lord. Abou then asks if his name is on the list, but the angel says it is not.
ndeterred, Abou requests the angel to write his name as someone who loves his fellow men. The angel obliges and disappears. The next night, the angel returns with a brighter light, showing Abou a list of those blessed by God's love. To Abou's surprise, his name leads all the rest, signifying that his love for humanity has earned him the highest divine recognition.
Explanation
Word Notes
deep dream of peace - dream occuring in deep, peaceful sleep
sweet accord- harmony
cheerly- happily
"Abou Ben Adhem" is introduced as the protagonist of the poem, a man of peace and virtue. The line "may his tribe increase!" is a blessing, indicating that the narrator holds Ben Adhem in high regard and wishes prosperity upon his descendants.
Ben Adhem wakes from a "deep dream of peace," suggesting that he lives a life of contentment and serenity. This peaceful nature makes him receptive to the divine presence that he is about to encounter.
The "moonlight in his room" symbolizes a divine or spiritual light, casting a serene and holy atmosphere. The moonlight is described as "rich, and like a lily in bloom," suggesting purity and beauty.
Ben Adhem sees an angel, a heavenly figure, writing in a "book of gold." The book of gold symbolizes a record of something precious and eternal—likely the deeds or names of the righteous.
Ben Adhem's "exceeding peace" gives him the courage to speak to the angel. His tranquility is so profound that he feels no fear in the presence of a celestial being.
He asks the angel what it is writing. The angel, described as having a "look made of all sweet accord," responds kindly and harmoniously, saying it is recording "the names of those who love the Lord."
Ben Adhem, with humble curiosity, inquires if his name is among those who love the Lord. The angel responds with a simple "Nay, not so," indicating that his name is not on the list.
Despite this, Ben Adhem remains undeterred and cheerful. He does not despair or feel disheartened. Instead, he makes a request: "Write me as one that loves his fellow men." This line reflects his belief that loving humanity is as important, if not more so, than professing love for God.
The angel records Ben Adhem’s wish and disappears. The following night, the angel returns, this time with a "great wakening light," symbolizing a revelation or divine truth.
The angel shows Ben Adhem the names of those who have been blessed by God's love, and to Ben Adhem’s surprise, "his name led all the rest." This indicates that his love for humanity was recognized as the highest form of love, surpassing even direct love for God.
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