Poems
Ariel Hierarchy
Rated ‘Poor man’ of nobility,
on the cusp the Tercel stands,
while Sparrow Hawk is tranquillity,
tithe-ed priest o’er all their lands.
Servant of all and yet false knave,
oversee-er Kestrel on high flies,
sentinel messenger to the brave,
for those who’ll listen to his lies.
Lanner sits beneath the salt,
‘Bring succour Lanneret,’ the lowly squire.
Aloof Gerfalcon stands beyond fault,
regale the monarch hailed by choir.
Proud Peregrine envies all,
Bastard Hawk shares in conspiracy.
Earls and their Barons watch the falls,
o’ the hooded and belled aristocracy.
(Historical Source: The Boke of St Albans 1486
Dame Julia Berners ‘The Hierarchy of Falconry’)
© S M Spiers 2006
NB Please note ‘Bastard Hawk’ is the correct term for a type of bird.
This work has not been previously published.)