Traitor’s Moon came from the depth of night, when I laid in bed listening to the shunting of box cars and trains passing through my home town from far off places. The punctuation of their whistle, long and short filled me with romantic longings that I could never pursue. Ribbon track clicking here to a big wheel tune, was the first line that stayed with me for weeks and finally set this song in motion.
This week’s poem is from my third book Horizon. The Calming is centred around our hideaway in the North during the beauty and quiet of autumn. The time when everything is still before the waning light, before the frost and snow.
Fredrick Brooks - Lead Vocals/Acoustic Guitar
Joy Brooks - Harmony/Percussion
Robbie Grunwald - Keyboards/Bass
Joey Landreth - Electric Guitar
Chris Pezzarello - Drums/Percussion
Recorded and produced by Robbie Grunwald - Raven Tape Music Room and Union Sound - Chris Stringer and Darren McGill
Mastered by Justin Gray - Immersive Mastering
<Click here to listen to Traitors Moon>
TRAITOR’S MOON
There’s a midnight train passing my hometown
With box cars from Memphis and Santa Fe
And a romance for anyone down that line
Can you hear that whistle moan - Can hear it - hear it cry.
Now it’s the end of my time marked by this Traitor’s Moon
Ribbon track clicking here to a big wheel tune
And the sparks they’re rising as the coyote yips
As the night grows cold I can feel its grip.
Now I’ve never been to Memphis - never been too far
When I hear that night owl scream it pulls at my heart
Oh I cannot find my way there it holds no truth
Still I hear that whistle moan - still hear it - hear it cry
I hear them shunting in the moonlight silhouettes on the page
Setting up our Colville run to end our days
It’s our dance to fruition on this holy night
And I touch my lover’s skin and hold on tight
So I lay here in this dark room with the stars shut tight
I can feel that seamless sky in some far off night
I’m dreaming - I’m falling - I’m out of control
Just a white light down that steel rail with no place left to go
No place - no place - no place - no place
Yip ya (coyote’s)
© Fredrick Brooks
Alex Colville - Horse and Train 1954
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THE CALMING
I came here for the quiet
Before the pitch of dawn
Before morning’s splendour
With fall’s hour long.
I know this silence
The mystery of its night
Where a distant moon shimmers
Then slowly drifts from sight.
So deep are these Autumn days
That sets the leaves adrift
For here lies the calming ways
Before daylight is sorely missed.
I’ll rest my heart near Hazard Hill
Before the winter freeze
I’ll go, for will takes me there
Along her path of barren trees
Grass Lake 2025
© Fredrick Brooks