Abou Ben Adhem

James 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.;

About the Poem

The poem focuses on an event in the life of the Sufi saint Ibrahim bin Adham (anglicized to Abou Ben Adhem).

Jenny kiss'd Me

Jenny kiss'd me when we met,
   Jumping from the chair she sat in;
Time, you thief, who love to get
   Sweets into your list, put that in!
Say I'm weary, say I'm sad,
   Say that health and wealth have miss'd me,
Say I'm growing old, but add
   Jenny kiss'd me.

About the Poem

The poem was inspired by Jane Welsh, the wife of Thomas Carlyle.

It was written during a flu epidemic, and refers to an unexpected visit by the recovered Hunt to the Carlyle household and being greeted by Jenny.

About James Leigh Hunt 1784 - 1859

James Leigh Hunt was a political journalist who fought for freedom of speech and social reform.

After overcoming a speech impediment and his parents' poverty, he published a series of books, poems, and journal contributions.

He was a friend of Byron, the Shelleys, Owen, Bentham, and similar radicals.

He served two years in prison for printing the truth about the Prince Regent.