Hello
I am learning this poem my own. I have some difficulty in understanding the meaning the sentence written bold.
If any body can help me, I would be grateful.
Thanks.
| 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. | 5 |
| 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.’ | 10 |
| ‘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 | 15 |
| 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. |
I am learning this poem my own. I have some difficulty in understanding the meaning the sentence written bold.
If any body can help me, I would be grateful.
Thanks.
I'll try my best, remember that this is poetry, so my literal interpretations may well be wrong.
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace: a very real or memorable dream of calmness/peacefulness. Or, it might possibly be a euphemism for a deep meditative state.
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold: Ben was extremely relaxed and didn't have any shyness.
And to the presence in the room he said: This refers to the angel.
What writest thou?’—The vision raised its head: Also the angel.
And, with a look made of all sweet accord,: The angel looked at Ben with a face that evokes sweetness/kindness.
It came again with a great wakening light,: It made a light that was powerful and woke Ben up. More likely figurative, Ben gained knowledge, becoming enlightened.
And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.: Ben's name was listed first among all the names of the blessed.
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace: a very real or memorable dream of calmness/peacefulness. Or, it might possibly be a euphemism for a deep meditative state.
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold: Ben was extremely relaxed and didn't have any shyness.
And to the presence in the room he said: This refers to the angel.
What writest thou?’—The vision raised its head: Also the angel.
And, with a look made of all sweet accord,: The angel looked at Ben with a face that evokes sweetness/kindness.
It came again with a great wakening light,: It made a light that was powerful and woke Ben up. More likely figurative, Ben gained knowledge, becoming enlightened.
And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.: Ben's name was listed first among all the names of the blessed.
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Comments
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/vanish
http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/vanish
En planting of this poem
I guess what the author is saying is that the best we we can manifest our love for God is by loving our fellowman.