FOR TONY ON THE OCCASION OF HIS HONOR

When God puts angels with us
He hides them in plain view
they do not sing, and have no wings
They look like me
and you

They may be Christian or Muslim
or may be Hindi or Jew
You just know by what they sow,
You know
by what they do.

We knew of the angel amongst us
the poet through and through
Who has brought peace, and to pain, surcease,
to thousands he never knew.

From Canada to Australia
He's fought evil of every hue,
From an awful war on distant shore
to starvation and suffering too.

Canada found this angel
Then Australia saw him too
And sang his praise with voices raised
and we know, long overdue.

So today we sing the praise
of the caring he never outgrew,
and he, who from his heart will never depart.
We will know by what he'll do.

Thank God for the touch of this angel,
devotion to good, let's renew.
And let it be that what people see
Is all the good WE do.

And

When it comes to his end of days
To the end of his passion fervent,
He will hear those precious words of praise:
"Welcome home, my faithful servant."

©Copyright January 2006 by Richard W. Reith

On the Occasion of the Awarding of the Medal of the Order of Australia (General Division)
on Australia Day, 26 January 2006 to Anthony W. Pahl, OAM