From 1885 until his death in 1908 his work was dominated by prose and poems. The 1895 prose text "Der Schmetterling" contains autobiographical accounts. Peter's enchantment by the witch Lucinde, of whom he regards himself a slave, is possibly in reference to Johanna Kessler. Peter, like Busch, returns to his birthplace. It is similar in style to the romantic travel story that Ludwig Tieck established with his 1798 "Franz Sternbalds Wanderungen". Busch plays with its traditional forms, motifs, pictures, literary topics, and form of narration.