Abou Ben Adhem (The Legendary Poem Retold)

ABOU BEN ADHEM

(The Legendary Poem Retold)

by Asif Uzzaman

Image source : dreamphotos

 

Abou Ben Adhem, (may God be pleased with him),

Witnessed a wonder one night in his place.

He saw a marvel when he got out of his dream,

An angel was in his room, and he, amazed.

The room was shining with the light that came,

From the book that the angel held to write.

For Abou Adhem’s surprise, he was writing some names,

In the golden book that was shining bright.

And Abou Ben Adhem asked, 'What do you pen?'

'Names of God-lovers,' the angel said.

'Is my name too in it written then?'

'No,' said the angel with a pitiful gaze.

'Then write my name too within the book,

For I am a man who loves the fellow men.'

He wrote "Abou Ben Adhem" and his head he shook,

Then departed after promising to come again.

The next night the angel returned with a smile,

For he’d come to the man who was the book’s gist,

The angel in his room again opened the file,

Lo! Abou Adhem’s name was first in the list.

© Asif Uzzaman

 
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