Favourite poems No 6- Abou Ben Adhem by Leigh Hunt

 

This is an old family favourite, and I'm sure it's one with which Uncle Tommy used to pester his siblings around teatime in the crowded sitting room in Stannington, where my mother was part of his teenage audience.

It's a properly Victorian poem, although written in 1834, four years before Victoria's coronation. It expresses the 'faith through good works' idea that how you behave to others is the highest measure of who you are. 

I like lots of things about it. The spooky waking up to find someone in your room, even if it is an angel. The idea that exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold. He's thinking "Everything has been going so swimmingly; what's the worst that could happen?" I also like it that he is not easily made uncheerful "Abou spoke more low, but cheerly still;"

But most of all I like it that my mother used to declaim it to us, and the formulaic opening always seemed very exotic but comforting. 

I will soon write a blog about all the phrases that have come down to us as 'grannyisms' , first via our own Kilkenny granny, then to our children, neices and nephews from their own Granny.

And I know what things I will be writing down in my Book of Gold.

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.