Don't expect angels to walk by your side <br />Unless you've been worthy with nothing to hide <br />Don't expect angels to stand guard for you <br />If you're doing evil while hiding from view <br />They do want you pure and mentally clean <br />And physically able to say what you mean <br />Don't expect angels to brighten your door <br />When cards you are playing aren't helping the score <br />Make angels smile by taking a stand <br />And trying to help all the people you can <br />Don't expect angels to do all the good <br />When you're only wishing and knocking on wood <br />Do expect angels to march thru the mud <br />To wade in the waters to save wasting blood <br />Don't expect angels to lock any doors <br />To save you from anger, to save you from lures <br />Don't expect angels to seek out your friends <br />And marshall the forces to stop wayward winds <br />For angels are mighty in deeds and in words <br />They roar like a lion and sing like a bird <br />Angels can be anyone on the street <br />A private chauffeur or a cop on the beat <br />Do expect angels to be everywhere <br />In peace and in danger they're standing so near <br />For angels are tranquil, they're smooth and they're tough <br />They're complex and simple, they're wistful and rough <br />They're soft like a baby, they fly while you walk <br />They shine through the sky, they sing while you talk <br />You may not know them when they are around <br />They're constantly working and work without sound <br />Do expect angels to love you each day <br />To fall on their knees and watch while you pray <br />Do expect angels to look like you look <br />They may be a star or just a plain cook <br />A man with a derby standing near you <br />He looks like a banker. Is he an angel too?<br /><br />James Weldon Lane<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-angel-truth/
