So, I'm doing this writing thing...

I've joined tamingthemuse recently, and in addition to weekly prompts, they're also doing monthly prompts. This month's prompt is to pick your favorite poem and to write a 1,000+ word story. As what will not come as a shock to anyone who knows me well, I've chosen "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes. I have adored this poem ever since I first read it in my literature class in seventh grade. What might be surprising is that I won't be focusing on either the Highwayman or Bess. Instead, I'm going to work from the point-of-view of Tim, the ostler.

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 black-eyed daughter;

It is never explicitly stated, but it is certainly heavily implied that it is Tim who tells King George's men where to find the robber. It's pretty much a cut and dried case of obsession, and I hope that I can tell the story from Tim's POV without making him out to be someone who should be pitied. Then again, I don't want to go overboard and make him even more vilified than he already is. Noyes did a perfect job of that with just one stanza (the lines I quoted are the only mention of Tim). (Also, I find it curious that Loreena McKennitt leaves this stanza out of her beautiful rendition of this poem.)

Anyway, I hope that I can pull this off and that I'll be posting this story to tamingthemuse soon.

And the next post will be about schmoopy Sam stuff and life stuff.