Today's Beautiful Gem: "Abou Ben Adhem" by 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 raisd 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 names led all the rest."

om s'aantih: Peace! - J. K. Mohana Rao

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