Camouflaged Flaws In Reality (Revised) Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Pratchett’s vision in ‘Men At Arms’
overwhelms – the enormous scope
of scenes he paints reduces me
to tears and silent wonder

Sam Vimes’ income spent caring for
widows and orphans of deceased
watchmen; Angua facetiously claims
he spends it all on women

Captain Carrot explains Vimes one-
man pension fund scheme, tells how
he lives frugally to provide for those
he sees worse off than him,

For this he receives fairytale rewards:
marries Ankh-Morpork’s richest woman
made a Knight by none other than the
undercover Ankh-Morpork King –

Captain Carrot – who finds evidence of
his kingship on plunging his sword into
granite, destroys powerful GONNE after
reading documents proving his lineage

But steadfast and strong, turns from his
birthright to the throne, preferring to remain
a watchman – this solid nobility becomes
overpowering narrative causality

Pratchett remonstrates about fairy tales
yet creates luminous, delicate, enticing
magical tales for these two characters,
weaving details as Discworld sagas

Despite cynical commentary on society
and human nature, Pratchett idealistically
creates wonderful bubbles of fantasy,
camouflaged as flaws in reality



[ORIGINAL]

SO overwhelmed by the enormous scope of
Pratchett’s vision in ‘Men At Arms’ - scenes
had me in tears before reducing me to silent
wonder - Sam Vimes spent his income

On widows and orphans of former watchmen; I
cried when Angua said he spent all his money
on women and Carrot stopped her explaining
Vimes one-man pension fund scheme

Vimes lived frugally to provide for those who are
worse off than him, for this he receives a fairytale
recompense: he marries Ankh-Morpork’s richest
woman and is made a Knight

By none other than the undercover Ankh-Morpork
King - Captain Carrot - who finds evidence of his
kingship when he plunges his sword into granite,
destroys the powerful GONNE

After reading documents proving his lineage, he is
still strong and turns from his right to the throne
preferring to remain a watchman - this nobility
becomes overpowering narrative causality

Pratchett always remonstrates against fairy tales,
yet creates the most luminous, delicate, enticing
magical tales for these two characters, filling in
details as the Discworld sagas continue

Pratchett seems to make cynical comments on
human nature and society, yet he is an idealist
creating most wonderful bubbles of fantasy,
camouflaged as flaws in reality