Tune: Kingsfold
(\'I heard the voice of Jesus say\')
*********
Goldfinch painted by Raphael
You do your story tell
\'Madonna of the Goldfinch\' we
The picture thus do see
In infant hand of John [Baptist] are held
Gently, and not impelled
And too infant Jesus strokes you
A beauteous scene we view
One foot you have on John\'s hand graced
One on Mary\'s lap placed
What story do you tell of how
Red spot on your head, now
Do tell us what the legend be
You did fly from a tree
To see Christ there, He crucified
You helped Him ere He died
To do something to lift the strain
To ease the Saviour\'s pain
Unto His cross at Calvary
You did approach bold, free
To pluck a thorn from off His crown
You did descend, come down
As you with your beak a thorn pulled
Then this is here recalled
That as you did so, blood, a drop
Splashed on your head atop
Sweet bird, you did there what you could
At that cruel cross of wood
Sing on still with your melody
Of the Saviour now free
Of death, He lives for evermore
He remembers you sure
--------
The painting of 1505 is in the Uffizi, Florence.
It also shows Mary reading \'The Throne of Wisdom\' book.