Oh Marie dates back to a bygone era that portrays a colourful view of the union dance. All the characters mentioned here are real life personalities, and my father and mother are the main protagonists . My father was an International Union rep and he and my mother were excellent dancers - “The King and the Queen of the Ball”. It’s an honest, fun song that I think captures the era perfectly.
This week’s poem ‘A Kiss’ is from my second book, The Quarterly. It explores playfully the different kinds of a kiss one can experiences as we travel through our life’s journey.
Fredrick Brooks - Vocal/Acoustic Guitar
Jeff Brackett - Mandolin/Acoustic Guitar
Alex Paris - Bass
Ray Hickey Jr. - Banjo
Joy, Caroline, Katherine Brooks - Harmonies
Produced by Paul LaChappelle, Fredrick Brooks and Jeff Brackett
Recorded and mastered at Quest Recording
<Click here to listen to Oh Marie>
Oh Marie
It’s round past eight and I can see the writing on the wall
That ole man’s heart is pounding fast
And it’s time to heed the call
He says “Where’s my liquor - where’s my smokes?
I can hardly wait - that union hall is breathing hard
And it’s time to escape.
Chorus
And Oh Marie - lets go dancing
We’ll be the King and the Queen of the ball
Oh Marie let’s go dancing and forget about this life for awhile.
Now Davey’s talking C.C.F. and how he hates the companies rules
Long John’s crying in his beer how he wished he’d stayed in school
And the smoke gets denser by the minute and a band strikes up a reel
And those lady folk grab each other’s hand with a loneliness so real.
Chorus
Now we’re all brothers come bout one o five
We sing Solidarity’s Forever and the whiskey makes it fine
And they played God Save the Queen (God Save our Gracious Queen) and I never questioned why
And tomorrow that whistle blows and we march in - in style.
Chorus
©Fredrick Brooks 1996
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A Kiss
‘Long ago’- I was held by a kiss
A maternal kiss
A Mother’s loving touch
A kiss that tickles ears
Plants itself in roots of tousled hair.
———————
‘Once upon a time’ - I was held by a kiss
A pubescent kiss
Gleaming keys colliding - nipping playfully
A prayer - a song of love
A foreshadow of farewell.
———————
‘Just yesterday’ - I was held by a kiss
A kiss of loss
Brief
Cool as stone
Achingly absent.
———————
‘Today’ - I was held by a kiss
A kiss from my love’s deep sensuous mouth
Pineapple lips
The amorous fig of desire
Insatiable
Resilient.
© Fredrick Brooks 2013
<Click her to listen to A Kiss>