Oh I see:
"Rigg comes from the Scottish word for "ridge", as in the medieval "ridge and furrow" system of farming, or run rig land allocation."

So I think "long yew rigg" is a great idea. Thanks!

I agree with slipped vs slit since even though I hear "slit", "slipped" makes more sense.

Not sure about banished vs burnished.

I also still think it's "to the gloom of a dark November" vs "in the gloom of a dark November". Here is what I have:



The tender ties of a true lovers' knot
in closeness twine the lighter
but the distance that draws the ends apart
means the knot grows fast and tighter
I've slipped the loop of the highwayman's hitch
slackened the bite of the bowline
but I'll never loosen this Jack Ketch noose
for my heart has been cruelly stolen

Today I saw my breath on the wind
that hushed and rippled the barley
as I whistled the horses up to the gate
on an autumn morning early
The lark in the honeysuckle there
sang everything about you
and I swallowed my heart with a long deep sigh
for the year that had passed without you

The reaper's blade will follow the wind
and spill the corn on the morrow
The silver plowshare will till the earth
to a straight and crusted furrow
The wind will veer to the nor-nor-east
in the chilling wake of September
and I'll ride through the banished October leaves
to the gloom of a dark November

The early snows will comfort the earth
and the muffled hoof beats' whisper
over and over will speak your name
as the rind of frost grows crisper
I'll ride the line of the long yew rigg
at a slow collected canter
by the muffled walls and the shrouding drifts
of a long and a lonely winter

I'll find no voice for the festive cries
and familiar songs of the season
I'll find no tears in my restive eyes
as I search for the rhyme and reason
I'll watch the wick of December's days
into its final burning
and speak your name to the kindled flame
of another year of yearning