These three pieces progress inward from the most discursive to the most focused, ending on a single note. They might be portrayed as man vs. nature, then man vs. society, then man vs. himself.
Ribblesdale clearly follows the poem's sonnet form; eight lines put forward an idea, then six lines poignantly reflect upon it.
Unhaunted Desert is marked Disturbed; alternately sad and jolly, with sudden changes of character. It quotes (I hope subtly enough) The Earl of Essex Galliard by John Dowland which, of course, was written for Devereux at a time when he was a favorite of the queen who would later have him killed.
From Prison asks three soloists to improvise like the flight of birds. The choir meanwhile progresses from stony blocks to soaring angels on the single word "above".
It may seem fanciful to link Hopkins, Devereux and Lovelace, but here they are musically united because the pieces are formed from only three harmonies, two per piece.