The Death of the Valentime Highwayman

By Fee

She longed for the masked man who galloped

Through the dark woods to her only at night

Her lover who came alone for his visits

Their sweet love always kept out of sight

Dressed in black he rode a black stallion

Always sat tall in his saddle so brave

No man could control his convictions

Nor to no King would he ever be slave

With his blunder-bust strapped to his saddle

His matched pistols close by his side

To the peasants a hero to look up to

Against tyrant’s laws that he couldn’t abide

While his lady sat patiently by her window

A lantern of rose red held high in her hand

While her husband High Sheriff went searching

For the highwayman throughout the land

Twas the night of the Valentine’s story

He’d promised her he’d return on that night

With a red rose in the moonlight to love her

Then forever together they’d share the dawn’s light

 But treachery often comes with the darkness

Loyalty unlike loves easily bought

As her Chamber Maid slipped out the back door

Gold and silver she greedily sought

She heard the familiar pounding hoof beats

The black stallion that carried his fame

Once more the highwayman had gold for the hungry

He thought he’d eluded and left the Sheriff in shame

Beneath silken covers he kisses his true love

Whispers dearest one more kiss if I may

The Sheriff won’t be back till early morning

But neither heard the creaking stairway

Two shots rang out in the darkness

One shot penetrated each heart in the bed

While her chambermaid cried in the doorway

Guilt ridden gold the price for blood shed…