did you ever know "Abou Ben Adhem?" -- Day 1 of NaPoWriMo 2015

[please click on the picture to make it a bit larger] 

[I am the boy in back]

What do you know about Ben

Who do you relate him with?  Yourself?

Abou Ben Adhem I'm talking about

Though many have never heard of this man

He was my favorite poetry hero

 

Besides Kilmer's "A Tree" and nursery rhymes,

I'd recite Abou Ben Adhem from heart

Always have loved the 'rhymes, still repeat most

"A Tree" was first  memorized, no big deal

 

Why do I like Abou Ben Adam still? 

He, my kind of guy, 'loved his fellow man'

One room school, heard it over and over

My older school mates memorized it too

Him and Leigh Hunt I try to imitate   

_ _ _

 

Photo and Poem Copyright © 2015 Jimmiehov

All Rights Reserved

 - NaPoWriMo 2015 is a project to write a poem every day in April, National Poetry Month.  I am not sure that I will write one every day, we will see.
 - Today I'm linked with Magaly's "What Sparked Your Poetic Heart?" starting Day 1 of Poems in April at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads
and Week One Countdown: Day 1 of NaPoWriMo 2015
 - There generally were between eight and ten in our one room, grades 1-8, country school in rural Nebraska.  I am not really sure that the others memorized Abou Ben Adhem for me to hear. 
 - I first met Ben from my mother's poetry book that I found when doing some childhood snooping.  My teacher was happy that I had memorized it as my literature project.  I still have her little book.
 - Below is what I found at http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173698#poem
.
Abou Ben Adhem

By Leigh Hunt 1784–1859 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.