canto 98. general darkness profound

release of jericho; alone at dazzling kitty

jericho, released from his bonds
was delivered from existential harm
(a little early, but what of it?
we’re all a little tired of him),
found himself reflecting, alone
with just the thought: “i’m done”

a quest, with only one thing found:
there’s nothing there, it’s in his mind — 
the snails were just an artifice,
to keep him moving, superstitions — 
the damsels, clouds, the horses,
the trees, and the metaphysics,
the squids, parakeets, the lions,
the dragons, gods, and pirates,
all the various sorceresses,
the laurels, kings, and fortresses,
including, especially, *jericho* — 
it was all just there for show

(whether this is good or not
i’ll let the reader decide,
but for this particular adventure,
the concept “jericho” was over)

he sat back, and he wondered,
what next, what charge discover — 
came up with “just a change”
(it can’t get any more strange) — 
still, this quest was finished,
if not exactly as envisaged,
he set out for new experiences — 
new goals, gold, motivations — 
just a heart, hands, and hope — 
and the brain to create a new poem