Visitors bearing Gifts by Ms Paige Turner
The final Creative Ink evening workshop of the year (organised by Catherine Klyhn) was entitled ‘The Visitor’ and the theme for Quaker Poets was Gifts. So here’s a poem which marries both themes.
Abou Ben Adhem
By Leigh Hunt
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.
This is the poem I wish had been read at my mother’s funeral almost seventeen years ago. She loved it as she loved her fellow men and women. Have a warm Christmas.
Is Abou a Marxist poem or a Quaker poem? Or both at the same time? Was your Mum religious? Or political?