# Reginald's Peace Poem explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Saki.

## What happens

Reginald announces he is writing a poem on Peace, using a new fountain pen and a tin of mixed biscuits. He shares verses featuring a widgeon, a heedless hartebeest, and angels, but struggles with finding a rhyme for 'aasvogel.' The Other offers unhelpful agreement, and Reginald laments his poetic difficulties, ending with a threat to read more of the poem.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Absurdity of Social Rituals

Reginald's trivial and self-indulgent approach to writing a serious Peace poem satirizes the social ritual of composing patriotic or commemorative verse.

### Hypocrisy and Moral Facade

Reginald's poem is more concerned with clever rhymes and local color than genuine sentiment about peace, exposing a hollow moral facade.

## Character check-ins

### Reginald

The poet composing a Peace poem, struggling with rhymes and biscuit selection.

### The Chaplain

The Other, who listens to Reginald's poem and offers dry commentary.

## Key lines

> I’m writing a poem on Peace

Reginald announces his intention to compose a poem about peace.

_Opens the chapter, setting up the central action._

> Vereeniginging is good, but why widgeon?

The Other questions Reginald's choice of bird in his poem.

_Highlights Reginald's arbitrary poetic choices._

> I’m afraid I shall have to drop the aasvogel, and it did give such lovely local colour to the thing.

Reginald laments that he cannot find a rhyme for 'aasvogel' and may have to remove it from the poem.

_Illustrates Reginald's frustration with poetic constraints._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/reginald-s-peace-poem
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_49_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters