The Iron Mountain song

Just words

                     


             The Iron Mountain song

I have finished my journey and I drove to Iron Mountain. Been 30 years since I saw your face and I needed to talk to you one more time my love, my beautiful Kathy. The shadows of your kind face had been haunting me since the last time I saw you. You told me once in the Winter of 1986. "Damn war don't need you. Damn money become just paper when you die alone and my love, you will miss me."

I'm dying and I need you my Iron Mountain dream. My conquests seem so small as I rested by my Ojibwa Land. My 180 acres of free land is like me. Wild and untamed. I wondered. Is the traveling man cruelest lesson learn is.  The malice of hiding true face and need, is living and dying alone.

I went to the Iron Mountain tavern. I had send you a Facebook message.
          "Dear Kathy
I wished I worked less, loved more.
            Escaped less, held on tighter.
            Never ran from your embrace.
I will see you at the Tavern tonight if your will.
Old Poet last wish to see your face and hear your voice."
I received no answer.

I sat drinking a tap beer and caressing a double shot of whiskey. I hear my phone whispering and I have a message.
Dear Kathy wrote back. "Been a long time wandering soldier.  I'm alone too. Poor decisions led to  Ironwood. I'm coming to you. I will see you at 9 pm in Iron Mountain. Missed and I love you dear friend."

I wrote down in my journal.
"The cruelest lesson is learned too late.
The emptiness of a traveling man is learning.
Great conquests become worthless when you are dying alone.
I see shadows of your beautiful face.
I remember how you watched the bears at the dump.
I remember how we tubed the Wisconsin river and
I remember kissing bare shoulders.
Making promises that could not be kept.
Relique of things in the lost and found.
Leave us feeling empty and alone."

At 9 pm exact. Kathy walked in alone and she saw me. She ran to me and kissed my face many times and she embraced me tightly. She asked. "Where you been Johnnie. I never forgot you. You were my only kindness I have known. Are you okay dear Johnnie?"

I looked at her. Same beautiful face and perfect smile. Her hazel eyes still shone like the stars on a clear night. I told her. I had no place to go. I made a foolish wish for a perfect memory. I wanted to see and talk to you one more time. I'm okay. It is time to live and it is time to die. This moment is perfect. I held her tightly and we talked and drank till the tavern closed down.

We went to my hotel with a six pack of beer and we laid on the hotel bed together talking of good and bad days. She told me. I'm doing well. Big house in the woods. A lot of privacy from people and problems. My job is going well. You told me to go to school. Don't allow a man to pay my bills. I did and I'm thankful.

I asked her did you receive my letters? Our last call from Africa.  You told me. Can't wait no-more for you. Please be careful. One day you will need me. Is life destiny or do we write our own story my love?

Kathy put her face into my chest and with tears in her eyes whispered. "We are here. I'm free and you are safe my wandering man. I believe lover's ghost cannot be forgotten and you haunted me daily for 30 years. Destiny or not. Two foolish found deserved ending."

Kathy took me to Ironwood and I looked out the window. The sky was so beautiful and the vast forest stole my heart gain. I reached over and I held her hand.

    John Castellenas/Coyote

Author's Note

Just words

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

Money is just paper...Kathy was right. Remember always, "People before paper." Kathy was an independent woman...and a wise one. The last line of this write is the ultimate in romance, John.....the scene is one I can crawl into and smile. Holding her hand on the bed....and falling in love. Heavy sigh! So lovely. Your words are wonderful and that song has always been one of my favorites. Lydi**

[Coyote Poetry]

One of my favorite songs dear friend. Thank you Lydia for reading and the comment.

[Valentine]

I really like the feelings you expressed in this write. Many of us would love to go back and see a old friend or love again. It isn't always possible. Valentine

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear friend for reading and the comment. Always good to find old friends.

[barleygirl]

As I mentioned recently, I'm glad you are posting lots of new material lately, I'm really enjoying everything you do. Each of your recent writes have been a little more complex in the way you use artistic flair & variety to convey your stories. I love the beginning of this one where the guy leaves a text message but gets no answer -- good suspense . . . then "I hear my phone whispering" (such delicious word crafting!) I also love the poem in the middle with multiple lines starting with "I remember" . . . such excellent details to help the reader get inside your head & see the memories that make this lady special.

[Coyote Poetry]

She was and thank you dear friend for reading and the comment.

[Ken Simm.]

What a wonderful, uplifting story. We need more of such John. It goes without saying that it is a fine example of your art.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Ken. I appreciate your kind words.

[D Connolly]

This is a very pretty story. I'm so glad they were able to find each other again and forgive for foolish mistakes. I love the line "the emptiness of a traveling man is learning". I think to know so much that can only be known by experience can sometimes be very lonely. We have to leave a lot behind to know those things. But the story ends with so much hope and love, together in the cabin at Ironwood

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right. A long life teaches us many lessons. Thank you for reading and the comment.