Inferno in Oz - Epilogue

The instant Dorothy's feet get wet

And dump the poor girl's memory,

Tin Man gives the signal, where

Straw Man and Lion can see.

"Quickly now -- you must away

Alacritous across the veldt --

Before she notices you're there,

And get that Magic Belt!"

(The caper goes without a hitch,

Save for Toto's angry roar,

Though one look from the Lion

And he's whining on the floor.)

So, with Magic Belt retrieved

And placed in Glinda's watchful care,

Everything's put right again

With all accounts made square:

The Lion, most uncowardly,

Found the courage to carry on;

(Manely 'cause the fight was o'er

And all the threats were gone.)

As for Scarecrow, rightful King

And smartest (save for Dorothy Gale)

Takes his place upon his throne

Glad he didn't bale.

Tin Man and his lady friend

Say a rusty-teared farewell,

His mettle strong as ever,

Though they're both too sad to tell. 

Wizard and the Tik-tok Man

Having dodged her rage harpoon

Count their lucky stars, and then

Depart in Diggs' balloon.

Then Glinda, with her magic wand,

Fixing to repair the past,

Says some words, waves her arms,

And 2 spells then are cast:

The first enchantment cleans the land

And people of this memory;

No one, ever, will recall

The wrath of Dorothy.

The second spell: to send her home

Clean, refreshed and sound of mind,

Tucked in bed for Auntie Em

And Uncle Hank to find. 

Meanwhile, fallen Nomish King

And all his savage Nomish friends

Hide in caves where they belong, 

As this Oz story ends.

And there it is -- the story's done;

Every detail, verse and rhyme;

Only one last thing remains:  

See you all next time.

[fin]

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- © Jackson Cambridge, 2016.