Angels with Dirty Faces

For today's poem, I took theme of angels, which is currently that in a poetry group I belong to.

The title of course, is pinched from the James Cagney film of the same name. I watched a lot of old black and white films when I was young and that was a very good one.

I wanted to get away from the Angels of "Touched by an Angel", the TV show, all sweetness and light, and go back to the letter to the Hebrews - "Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it."

Angels with Dirty Faces

Touched by an Angel, so joyful and sweet
But is that really how it is? Such a dream
That they should be perfect, so very neat
Or is it rather things not as they seem?

Did you see that beggar, asking for aid?
And did you turn away, go swiftly by?
He looks dirty, smelly. Don't be afraid
He was an angel. And that's not a lie.

And the old woman, says funny things
Do you turn away, leave her outcast?
And did you expect angels with wings?
Don't be afraid, and see truth at last

Angels with dirty faces, found all around
Love knows the way, love there is found