"Avine" lyrics

He took her hands, he stole her lands
Branded her for living
Cast aside and vilified
No sign of forgiving
So give her back her magpie wings
They taught her how to steal and sing
Instead he clipped and had her whipped
She was left to wander sinning

He crushed her pride and stole her sight
She was left to travel blind
And stumble past the dead and done
Fortune mocking at her side
So give her back her raven eyes
The only way she knows to cry
As silent tears roll to her chest
Where she longs for those who died

He cut her tongue, took all she'd sung
Words she spoke when she was young
The words they whispered down the dale
Words she swore to never fail
So give her back her starling song
Over winters she's passed on
To sing to fledglings flying nests
Secrets kept and carried on
With air and earth and water crowned
To ashes buried underground
She holds no place in this disgrace
Liminal yet duty bound

The heron brings the swan will take
Harbour secrets never found
So give her back her heron's beak
So she can reach what lies beneath

Forever never feather crowned
She'll be waiting quietly