Winter Blues!

The Highwayman~ by Alfred Noyes

Then look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I'll come to thee by moonlight:

 The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees: 

 

 The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas:

 The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding—
Riding—riding—
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door:

Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there:

 But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

And dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked
Where Tim the ostler listened; his face was white and peaked;
His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,
But he loved the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's red-lipped daughter,
Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say—

 'One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night,
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;
Yet, if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
Then look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I'll come to thee by moonlight.'

He did not come in the dawning; he did not come at noon;
And out o' the tawny sunset, before the rise o' the moon,
When the road was a gypsy's ribbon, looping the purple moor,
A red-coat troop came marching—
Marching—marching—
King George's men came matching, up to the old inn-door.

 How Bess, the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Had watched for her love in the moonlight:

 And still of a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
A highwayman comes riding—
Riding—riding—
A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door:

 Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet notes. My apologies to all my readers for taking such a long hiatus. But life has a way of interrupting my blog love. I truly missed visiting all your inspiring posts and have lot of catching up to do. Have a wonderful weekend!

Linking to:

The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sundays 

The House in the Roses: Show Off Your Cottage Monday 

Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday

A Stroll Thru Life: Table Top Tuesday 
Wednesday's Bunny Hop Party

Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays 
DIY by Design Winter Blues Wednesday

No Minimalist Here: Open House Party

A Creative Princess 
A Delightsome Life: Home and Garden Thursday

Between Naps On The Porch: Tablescape Thursday

The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home 

At The Picket Fence: Inspiration Friday

Potpourri Friday at 2805
My Romantic Home: Show and Tell Friday
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating: Flaunt it Friday

~POPPY~