I also offer a “Highwayman” workshop!!
Highwaymen are often referred to as “Gentlemen of the Road” but they were in fact nothing more than common thieves. “Stand and Deliver!” (the command rather than the song), was last uttered by a Highwayman in Britain in 1831 but their exploits were (and are) popularly romanticised. Alfred Noyes’ epic poem chronicles the night time adventures of one such rogue and the Landlord’s daughter, who tragically meet their ends in the cobbled inn yard. Alfred Noyes’ “The Highwayman” is a brilliant story of love that has been reinterpreted by artists, film makers and musicians around the world.
As part of a workshop exploring Alfred Noyes’ “The Highwayman”, I was challenged to reinterpret the poem for a group of Primary School children. This video is a part of the result and this blog came about as more and more people watched it online.
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Rather than tell the Highwayman’s story I wanted to explore the world of the other characters mentioned in the poem. I wanted the tone to be quite serious so taking Bess’ perspective was out. The Landlord and the King’s Guards presented possibilities but the most interesting character seemed to be Tim the Ostler. In the original poem Tim is mentioned by name but appears in just one stanza:
“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—”
Who was this man? Why was he there? What was his role in events and what was his story beyond the inn yard?
What follows is the transcript of the above video. My version is actually longer than this as I introduce the Captain of the Guard and explain what happens to Tim (I reserve those verses for live presentations).
What was most striking for me in Noyes’ poem was his rhythm and rhyming structure. When I listen to the poem I always think about a horses hooves and I wanted my poem also to respect a regular meter (which it loosely does). I also love his imagery and try to include some bold similes and metaphors. Like Noyes I was drawn to his original themes of love, jealousy and violence but I have chosen for Tim the Ostler to recount his bitter betrayal rather than a third party.
Tim the Ostler
Now the landlord he has a daughter, whose lips are as red as a fire
Her hair is a perfumed cascade you couldn’t fail to admire
Oh how I longed for this young girl, who goes by the name of Bess
My master’s black eyed daughter
She smiled at me, his daughter
I dreamt that this sweetest lady would someday be my Princess….
I also offer a “Highwayman” workshop!!
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