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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Inaudible Words of A Dead Body

Inaudible Words of A Dead Body 

(a poem)

by Asif Uzzaman

My heart has stopped beating,

My nose now is a silent hole.

People of the earth, forgive me

If I was inferior in any of my roles.

You’ve sealed my nose with cotton,

I still lay relaxed, not choking.

Hey! How is this possible?

I’m neither exhausted, nor joking.

Why are you sobbing, surrounding me?

I haven’t met an accident. I’m fine,

Oh! my widow! Take care of our boy,

After sixteen days, he’ll be nine.

I’m lying silently, I have no pain,

What is the matter to mourn?

Why my sisters are chorusing elegies?

Why are they singing mourning song?

Hey! Don’t dare to put camphor over me,

I hate it, it reminds me of grandma’s death.

I beg you all, please keep it away!

Don’t you hear what I saith?

I am bathed, shrouded and made to lie,

In the coffin, everyone wants to bear.

Final salutations to my friends and foes,

And everyone present over here.

A pall is put over my grilled coffin,

Written on which, are some holy verses.

I am light enough to be carried on shoulders,

I don’t need carrying hearses.

I am now on my brethrens’ shoulders,

They walk with sorrow in their eyes.

All has got a limited span to live,

Death is the cost price of life.

© Asif Uzzaman