Poetic Pairings: June

Dame Elisabeth Frink 'Peregrine Falcon' From Birds of Prey Tate Britain 1974 (View by appointment in the Prints and Drawings Room)

The Falcon to the Falconer

Unleash me from your hand
And I will lance the light for you
I'll cut a swordblade on the wind
And pennant it with flight for you
To signal I am yours
If you will free me to be true to you

Unleash me from your hand
And I will mock the sky for you
I'll pull the anger from the air
And make the breezes sigh for you
To show you I am yours
If you will free me to be true to you

Unleash me from your hand
And I will jewel it bright for you
I'll hunt the treasures of the wind
And pluck them into sight for you
To show that I am yours
If you will free me to be true to you

O, cast me from your hand
That I may show my love for you
And throw me to the wind
That I may know my need for you

All darkness on your hand
I'm hooded, pinned and held by you
O, give me back my wings
That they may bring me back to you 

Jonathan Steffen