Poem based on The Highway Man by Alfred Noyes

Sisters Reading The Highwayman

They tiptoed back to the closet and grasped the red book where

They searched for page 123 and sat on the floor right there.

They pointed to Alfred’s Highwayman a poem they could not ignore,

And the sisters all sat reading—reading—reading—

The sisters all sat reading, there on the hallway floor.

They soaked in vibrant details, the velvet and the lace.

They closed their eyes and imagined sneers on the ostler’s face.

They sighed for the dark-haired daughter and the man whom she adored,

And the sisters all sat reading—reading—reading—

The sisters all sat reading, there on the hallway floor.

When soldiers bound the daughter, the sisters held their breath,

Spellbound they sat motionless when she warned her love by death.

And tears formed within their eyes when he died on the lonely moor,

And the sisters all sat reading—reading—reading—

The sisters all sat reading, there on the hallway floor.

They pictured his ghost in the darkness whistling his tune.

And she’d step out to meet him in the light of the silvery moon.

They shivered with sad delight and read the poem once more,

And the sisters all sat reading—reading—reading—

The sisters all sat reading, there on the hallway floor.

They often heard friends’ voices, “Can they come out to play?”

“They’re back there reading poetry.” They heard their mother say.

Their silly friends sniffed and hollered, “Poetry! What a bore!”

And the sisters all sat reading—reading—reading—

The sisters all sat reading, there on the hallway floor.