Observations placeholder
Leigh Hunt - Abou Ben Adhem
Identifier
015030
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
James Henry Leigh Hunt (19 October 1784 – 28 August 1859), best known as Leigh Hunt, was an English critic, essayist, poet, and writer.
A description of the experience
Leigh Hunt – Abou Ben Adhem
Abou Ben Hadhem – 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 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