ABOU BEN ADHEM

 In pairs discuss your answers to the following.

Do you love God?

Does God love you? How do you know?

What types of person does God love?

Now read the following poem and find out the answer to the third question.

ABOU BEN ADHEM

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 blessed,

And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.

-Leigh Hunt

The teacher should explain the words/phrases given on the next page.

may his tribe increase                 - may there be more of such people 

making it rich                             - making it beautiful

in bloom                                     - blossoming, not a bud, full flower

exceeding peace                         - great peace 

bold                                            - unafraid, courageous 

presence                                     - being at a place- the angel 

writest                                        - writing (old English)

thou                                           - you (old English)

vision                                         - what is seen- the angel

made of all sweet accord           - gently, sweetly 

nay                                             - no (old English)

low                                             - softly, in a humble way 

cheerly                                       - happily 

wakening light                           - so bright that it wakes up a sleeping person

led all the rest                             - was first  

For Solved Exercise of this poem, click on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTgYmbQGweWg7n1IMh3PCA/join