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Message started by drharveys on 08/22/10 at 19:57:10

Title: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by drharveys on 08/22/10 at 19:57:10

So there we were, just seven people in three bikes (one with a sidecar) out for an evening's ride. Just some tree-lined suburban roads with a near full moon poking through the clouds. And then it popped into my head, and wouldn't leave:

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.

...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.
-- Alfred Noyes

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c144/HeKate3337/highwayman-final.jpg

An exercise for the reader:
Take a glass, put in two ice cubes and a jigger of good whiskey.
Sip the whiskey, and read the poem out loud:

The Highwayman (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Highwayman_%28Noyes%29)

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/23/10 at 06:17:52

-- Alfred Noyes

He needs to make up his mind.

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by Phelonius on 08/23/10 at 18:45:05

A great poem but a tragic ending.

Phelonius

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by Starlifter on 08/23/10 at 18:47:23

Hey, one of my all time favorite poems. The way you tied it into your ride is way cool.

"And still on 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 gypsy's ribbon looping the purple moor,
The highwayman comes riding--
Riding--riding--"

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by mick on 08/23/10 at 21:03:16

After reading the poem it seemed very English to me,and indeed he was ,I'm not to sure about the highwayman,I think he is writing about D1ck Turpin,the highway thief that plaiged the road from Birmingham to London, The inn were he used to stay while in london is still there to this day ,it is up on hamstead heath,it is now called "The D1ck Turpin Inn" he was ratted out by a chicken sh1t guest at the inn,and taken to
prison in York tried and hanged ,the same say the guy that ratted him out was hanged from an oak tree in the woods behind the inn,by all acounts I real nice guy he would never steal from lady's ,only men with fat wallets,and he really did give to the poor in the form of drinks at the bar.
Like I said that may or may not be true ,but it's a good story, And we do know that DT did exist,and was hanged.
I guess alot like Robin Hood ,who's name should have been robbing Hood,he was also no hero, he was a killer and a thief .
Strange how we romantisize our villains ,look at jessie james, Billy the Kid,what the heck they make for great stories.

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by mick on 08/23/10 at 21:08:17

Just noticed the girls name was Bess, odd but D1ck Terpins horse was named Bess,he rode his horse from London to York while trying to elude the police,His trusty steed dropped dead on arrival in York, after a 200 mile run. Ooops I think Terpin is / was spelled Turpin ,sorry.
PS his horse was "Black Bess" didn't the poem mention dark hair or eyes ?

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by mpescatori on 08/24/10 at 00:35:44

70747E7669757871747078641D0 wrote:

Aye, and listening to the poem (ode ?) in American English - and by a girl, at that ! - seemed a little out of place...

...I somehow expected it to be recited by a man with a deep, full voice, perhaps with a hint of Scot or Yorkish accent, just to add to the atmosphere...

8-)

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by mpescatori on 08/24/10 at 01:11:31

THIS I would love to listen to, possibly read by Sir Sean Connery or Michael Caine...

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Beowulf

(here in English ;) http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Beowulf_(Gummere)#I )

Beowulf. [Translated by Francis Barton Gummere].This is a short but beautiful book, and the Gummere translation really captures the feel of the Old English. Beowulf tells the story of a mysterious young warrior who saves the Spear-Danes from the terrible monster Grendel and his venomous mother. Long a mainstay of English Literature 101 courses at universities around the world, it is not only one of the oldest, but one of the most exciting English folktales ever invented. Summary by Caeristhiona

[media]http://www.archive.org/download/beowulf/beowulf_05_gummere_64kb.mp3[/media]

Here is an example (Chapter 5) in a good voice.
I just cannot accept an epic poem read by a squeaky voice ::)

:)

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by Phelonius on 08/24/10 at 11:03:22

Just because he rode Bess doesn
t mean that that was the horses' name.

Phelonius

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by Midnightrider on 08/24/10 at 14:16:45

595D575F405C51585D59514D340 wrote:

I guess alot like Robin Hood ,who's name should have been robbing Hood,he was also no hero, he was a killer and a thief .
Strange how we romantisize our villains ,look at jessie james, Billy the Kid,what the heck they make for great stories.

Mick I guess romantisizing our villians goes along with romantisizing our politicians. If we really knew the truth about all of them they were all evil. Even our founding fathers, they were just about all slave owners, then they have the audacity to say all men are created equal. Not exactly someone I want to use for a role model. All those tall tales do make great Russel Crowe movies though LOL.

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by mick on 08/24/10 at 14:21:14

0C343930333235292F5C0 wrote:

Just because he rode Bess doesn
t mean that that was the horses' name.

Phelonius

the horses correct name was Black Bess,I guess that could still apply. ;D

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by bill67 on 08/24/10 at 14:24:56

Mick your not a man till you've had some tan. :)

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by mick on 08/24/10 at 14:40:57

515A5F5F0504330 wrote:

Mick your not a man till you've had some tan. :)

Bill,did that before a white gal,She was a half Maurie,native New Zealander,he Dad was so black he was almost blue,he was a skipper on ferry boat going from the north and south Island.
The gals mom was from Scotland ,the gals name Was Joy Toa,and what a joy she was,and looked like the colour of coffee and cream.

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by Starlifter on 08/24/10 at 17:04:59

Ahhh, nothing like a Chinese girl, just like the food, one hour later you'll want more. ;)

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by drharveys on 08/24/10 at 20:02:15

You guys are just dedicated to promoting racial harmony -- one attractive and consenting woman at a time! ;D

Title: Re: Evening Ride -- The Highwayman
Post by Jay on 08/24/10 at 23:57:26

I've often thought of that poem when out on a late night ride; despite the lack of trees in this part of the world. As for the voice that recites it, it is my mother's. She would read many poems and stories to us when we were kids, up til we got to be teenagers and "too cool" to be subjected to "that stuff". Glad she abused us so. :)