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ANGELS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: In the old days god sent his angels oft
Last Line: God bless you all, our angels unaware!
Alternate Author Name(s): Van Deth, Gerrit, Mrs.
Subject(s): Angels; Death; Heaven; Dead, The; Paradise


IN the old days God sent His angels oft
To men in threshing-floors, to women pressed
With daily tasks; they came to tent and croft,
And whispered words of blessing and of rest.

Not mine to guess what shape those angels wore,
Nor tell what voice they spoke, nor with what grace
They brought the dear love down that ever-more
Makes lowliest souls its best abiding place.

But in these days I know my angels well;
They brush my garments on the common way,
They take my hand, and very softly tell
Some bit of comfort in the waning day.

And though their angel-names I do not ken,
Though in their faces human love I read,
They are God-given to this world of men,
God-sent to bless it in its hours of need.

Child, mother, dearest wife, brave hearts that take
The rough and bitter cross, and help us bear
Its heavy weight when strength is like to break,
God bless you all, our angels unaware!





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