A MEMORABLE POEM
Poetry
not only gratifies our feelings and emotions but also makes memorable additions
to our thoughts. Some poems delight and enrich our souls. They bring us nearer to God. Their purpose is
to relieve us from cheap enjoyments and provide instead a strong belief in sublime
spiritual values.
We
forget insignificant poems because they are for short-lived enjoyments. But we eternally
store in our memory those which continue to purify our minds and ceaselessly
attempt to make us wiser than ever before.
The
English poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744) said: Truth shines the brighter clad in
verse. And another poet S.T. Coleridge (1772-1834) said: Poetry has been to me
its own exceeding great reward: it has given me the habit of wishing to
discover the good and beautiful in all that meets and surrounds me.
Finally,
given below is an unforgettable poem
which I first read about sixty years ago. Its title is Abou Ben Adhem written
by the English poet Leigh Hunt (1784-1859).
“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 and 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
fellowmen.”
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 blessed,
And lo ! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.
*****
G.R.Kanwal
16 September 2025
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