He Rode At Night Poem by Liilia Talts Morrison

There was a rider long ago
who nightly set his course
emerging from a well hid cave
and mounted his black horse

They say that wool was very dear
back in those days of old
and merchants traveled on their way
with silver and rich gold

The rider had been quite highborn
but something made him yearn
for danger and for riding hard
and all his bridges burn

So when he donned his sooty cape
and rode into the night
he overwhelmed the travelers
they did not dare to fight

The riches that this highwayman
brought back in heavy bags
were shared with the unfortunate
who wandered 'bout in rags

Most of those robbers of those times
were caught and hung on high
but this lone rascal and his steed
none captured, none knew why

They say the poor would feed his horse
and treat it like a king
that's why this stallion was so swift
and ran like he had wings

Nobody knows what was the end
of this most puzzling soul
but still today they talk of him
who hearts and booty stole

There was a rider long ago
who nightly set his course
emerging from a well hid cave
and mounted his black horse.