Highwayman

The shadows on the moonlit road
Belonged to ancient trees,
But then I saw a hulking form
That made my marrow freeze.

He stood well over six feet tall,
His face was long and lean,
‘Though dressed in velvet like a lord,
His voice was cold and mean.
 
He aimed his pistols at my breast,
With, ‘Stand and drop your knife.
Deliver all your goods, my friend,
Your money or your life.’

I knew I couldn’t hope to win,
And threw the man my purse;
But then he leapt upon his horse 
And rode off with a curse.

The sounds of riders galloped by,
But none were there, I swear;
I heard a single shot ring out,
Thus adding to my scare.

The highwayman would never rest;
But all was still again;
I prayed, and, chilled by thoughts of ghosts,
Continued down the lane.

 For Joyce's contest
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012


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Date: 11/4/2012 1:46:00 PM
Romantic and dashing... Errol Flynn could play him! Thanks for a fun read!
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Date: 9/12/2012 1:27:00 PM
BRAVO! Wonderful. This was my favorite.
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Date: 9/10/2012 1:32:00 PM
Congratulations on your well deserved win in the contest of Joyce "My Favorite" Jack. Love, Carol
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Date: 9/9/2012 9:07:00 PM
A really great eerie adventure tale! Congratulations on your win!! Terry
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Date: 9/8/2012 8:13:00 PM
A fantastic write, Jack! Congrats on your win with this dramatic piece! Love, Kim
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Date: 9/8/2012 11:58:00 AM
A captivating write here jack!Congrats on your win!
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Date: 9/8/2012 4:04:00 AM
Love it Jack, another good creepy one congratulations dear boy xx
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Date: 9/7/2012 8:15:00 PM
Jack, congratulations, in Joyce's favorite contest... good night~ PD
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Date: 9/7/2012 4:32:00 PM
great poem, wonderfully rhymed! i love the "made my marrow freeze" line especially.
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Date: 9/7/2012 3:54:00 PM
I am so glad to find you among the winners. I was impressed by the rhyme and meter and the story and the last line really got me. Congratulations. Love, Joyce
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Date: 9/4/2012 9:39:00 AM
Loved this Jack...nice and spooky! Good luck in the contest...reads like a winner to me! - Tim
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Date: 9/4/2012 8:21:00 AM
ok Jack luv Tracie has a new collab contest .. do u want to enter with me? first u must let me know what the writing on her contest says on the colored part as hard for me to focus and read luv .. please get back to me about entering as I did say next collab contest I wanted to do with u ..
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Date: 9/3/2012 2:42:00 PM
Awesome write Jack....your poem has it all.....anticipation, excitement and trepidation! Hugs
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Date: 9/3/2012 1:24:00 PM
Not a good idea to read this one at night Jack! ;-) I love this, hope you have an awesome week my friend ;) lfde Wilma
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Date: 9/3/2012 10:12:00 AM
wow jack, just love this, wanted it to go on and on, good luck in contest.
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Date: 9/3/2012 9:49:00 AM
wow, I think I have just read the BEST and the scariest of the Halloween tales. VERY well crafted, my friend. Love it.
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Date: 9/2/2012 8:54:00 AM
vibrant intoxicating lines of mysterious suspense .. this favorite should do very well in Joyce's My Favorite contest luv .. best of good wishes .. hi to Sue too..
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Date: 9/1/2012 8:11:00 PM
Hi Jack, wow... now that reminds me of a shadow, in a movie... Joyce will love the entry.. always~ PD
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Date: 9/1/2012 6:11:00 PM
good one!! gave me a cill!!
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Date: 9/1/2012 5:00:00 PM
Hey jack, I was holding my breath. I felt I was reading a thriller story. Very good, this one. A big win I know. One love. Joy Wells
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Date: 9/1/2012 4:22:00 PM
Great rhyme, rhythm, and flow to this scary work..Some thought had to go in writing it..Thanks for all the comments and for reading all my works..Sara
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Date: 9/1/2012 2:59:00 PM
excellent! Good luck with the contest!
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Date: 9/1/2012 2:18:00 PM
Ah, yes! A great Halloween poem my friend! I truly love this incredibly scary write that you have so illustriously written! I'm glad to see you enjoy this time of the year(or is it time yet?) as I do(OK, I haven't seen anybody love this time of year as much as I do)! I'm already ready for Halloween and it's not even October yet...my wife won't let me decorate for the season until at least October! It will get here, I'll be ready and waiting for it! Awesome and free flowing write! Great Work!!
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Date: 9/1/2012 1:16:00 PM
Nice. Loved reading it.
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