Eighteenth Century English Poetry

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 peache 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 all of sweet accord, Answered, "The name of those who love the Lord." "And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so," Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, But cheerily still; amd said, "I pray theee, 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. Written by Leigh Hunt. I read this in English Lit. class at Martin College in Pulaski, Tennessee, in 1959, and it has stuck with me all these almost fifty years. It is my favorite even though it was not composed by one of the greats's of English poetry. The message is what the world needs now!