Greetings to Great A'Tuin

I know that somewhere out there
Rincewind runs away from Death
who chases him just for a hobby.
I know that he never
wished to be a hero
or save anybody's ass
but his own.

I know that somewhere out there
a young witch is growing up
like flint grows within the chalk.
I know she has the fire within her
to be the hag of her hills,
this land which she carries inside her bones,
and that she's never left alone.

I know that somewhere out there
a fierce werewolf lady
keeps guarding the law.
I know that she's deeply in love
with the most gentle and naive dwarf
of six foot six inches height
and that, for both, it is just right.

I know that somewhere out there
a girl became a wizard;
her name was Eskarina.
I know the Unseen University
told her: "Off limits for girls!"
and that she, nonetheless,
mastered some of the greatest magic arts.

I know that somewhere out there
a man of cunning mind
is reigning the most chaotic city.
I know Ankh-Morpork could not exist
without him, the Lord Patrician,
and that this unsympathetic cold politician
has one being he honestly cares for.

I know that somewhere out there
Winter himself fell in love with a girl
and was but just a boy trying to impress her.
I know he thought that iron and water
were enough to make him human for her
but she kissed him to death with the sun's fire
and she cried for him afterwards.

I know that somewhere out there
a clumsy dreamer had to learn
to be more than a dozen elbows and knees.
I know he once was Death
but Death was never him,
now he remembers the DUTY
and the loneliness along with it.

I know that somewhere out there
Susan Sto Helit, almost mortal,
beats bogeymen out her house with a poker.
I know that she knows
how music with rocks in feels
and that one can have a perfect moment
even with nougat pralinés.

I know that somewhere out there
the auditors of reality
are still trying to bring order to the chaos.
I know that they will ever fail
and I am glad about it
for they never truly got
what humans are for.

I know that somewhere out there
a sour, cynical misanthrop
upholds social ideals even surrounded by crime.
I know that he fell in love
with a woman who breeds and trains dragons,
that he works with trolls, vampires, werewolves and dwarves
despite being full of prejudices against any species.

I know that somewhere out there
a bunch of wee free men
steal and drink and fight wholeheartedly.
I know they just as dedicatedly protect
their home, their little big witch, their freedom
with no king nor queen to rule them;
they are not to be fooled again.

I know that somewhere out there
the Grim Reaper is still trying
to understand humans.
I know that he cares
even so much
he gave lifetime
to more than one child.

I know that somewhere out there
Great A'Tuin swims on
through the wide dark space.
I wonder if she knows
that we remember her
that we remember her creator
and keep this memory in our hearts
as it guides us through darkness
makes us cry
makes us laugh
makes us think
makes us embrace
the impossible and the unthinkable.

I know that these stories
remain precious to me
even when the writer is long gone.

I know that somewhere out there
the ripples live on...