264. Abou ben Adhem by Leigh Hunt
b'Hunt read by Classic Poetry Aloud:\\n http://classicpoetryaloud.podomatic.com/\\n \\n Giving voice to the poetry of the past.\\n \\n ---------------------------------------------------\\n \\n Abou ben Adhem\\n by Leigh Hunt (1784 - 1859)\\n \\n \\n Abou ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) \\n Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, \\n And saw\\u2014within the moonlight in his room, \\n Making it rich and like a lily in bloom\\u2014 \\n An angel, writing in a book of gold. \\n Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, \\n And to the presence in the room he said, \\n \\u2018What writest thou?\\u2019\\u2014The vision raised its head, \\n And, with a look made of all sweet accord, \\n Answered, \\u2018The names of those who love the Lord.\\u2019 \\n \\u2018And is mine one?\\u2019 said Abou. \\u2018Nay, not so,\\u2019 \\n Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, \\n But cheerly still, and said, \\u2018I pray thee, then, \\n Write me as one that loves his fellow men.\\u2019 \\n \\n The angel wrote and vanished. The next night \\n It came again with a great wakening light, \\n And showed the names whom love of God had blessed, \\n And lo! Ben Adhem\\u2019s name led all the rest. \\n\\n\\n\\nFirst aired: 18 Aug 2007\\n\\nFor hundreds more poetry readings, visit the Classic Poetry Aloud index.\\n\\nReading \\xa9 Classic Poetry Aloud 2007'