Jonas El Enterado

Jonas was nothing but a young man
who spent his time investigating,
just as he had always done
they didn't pay much attention to him
and knowing little of the world
little like someone who is not wise
little and so little that one day
he decided he was going to do something.
I'm saying goodbye now
I'm off to the mountains, he said
by the time I return
my beard will be long
those who heard him then said
Jonas has always been a fool
and I swear his departure
is better than his return.
He didn't care if they laughed
when he left
he already knew the laughter
of those who can't understand.
And he went along the roads
agile, wandering, and alone
taking brisk jumps
and singing cheerful tunes
to find the old wise man
who answered everything
with rags of a hundred years
and a bell on his hat.
Many things happened to him
because many things happen
over the years
spent in the mountains
he found no one wiser
than the heart he carried
which smiled
answering all his questions.
And one day they saw him
returning from somewhere.
Don't stop walking
explore the world with your foot
men will walk
and understand later.
He returned and it wasn't a day of celebration
people looked silently
for the beard and the laughter
covered his whole face,
he wore a bell on his hat
discolored and patched
and dirty rags
and a shadow leading.
Hang me from an oak tree
if I don't see the faces (he said)
of those who asked
long ago and still scratch themselves,
those who heard him then said
this one hasn't changed
the bad thing about him leaving
is that he returned.
He stayed for some time
talking and organizing
feasts and revelries
around the town and the villagers
but his partying got out of hand
and celebrating wildly
a council was held
and one day they kicked him out.
And he walked away with the leaves
hanging from the branches
at regular intervals
like steps fading away,
the last time they saw him
he wasn't alone, he led
a gang of rogues
heading towards the mountains.
Don't stop walking
explore the world
with your foot men will walk
and maybe understand. but
men will remember
and then forget.