Pony Verse: A Collaborative Collection of Pony Poetryby darfChaptersTable of Contentson the way homeBig Macintosh Waxes PoeticClerihooves (Part 1)On a Bunny Rabbit Named 'Angel'Untitled Hearts and Hooves Day PoemTreehouseTo Sunchaser the YoungerLagniappeStudentHairy SituationNo MossLyrical LyreA Dress AchievedFuzzy RefractionsFrom a Jilted Lover to Her Lost LoveLament of nameless changelingsAttempt 4-3-4On Pegasi—A PrimerSisters Never Listen!Griffon War SongAn Impromptu Private Composition Upon The Joyous Occasion Of My Return GalaHymn to the PrincessDissolving (concordia discors)WitnessCake Thieffrom the cloudsA Poem, by GummyIgnis FatuusThese AreShe Blinked, and the Sky grew DarkOn Earth PoniesAfter-PartyWhen the Night Mares VisitKoans for the Next AgeClerihooves (Part 2)Beneath the SunWe Gallop Around Clerihooves (Part 3)Table of Contents 1. These Are -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forever Freest Subject: Harmony Style: Mixed Meter/Ballad 2. on the way home ---------------------------------------------------------------- darf Subject: Spike Style: In emulation of William Carlos Williams 3. She Blinked, and the Sky grew Dark ------------------------------------ Aquillo Subject: Luna Style: Mixed Meter/Ballad 4. On Earth Ponies ----------------------------------------------------------------- Cynewulf Subject: Earth Ponies Style: Free Verse 5. Big Macintosh Waxes Poetic ------------------------------------------------ PersianJuliet Subject: Big Macintosh Style: Free Verse/Bookended Couplets 6. Clerihooves (Part 1) ----------------------------------------------------------- (various) Subject: Various Style: Clerihew 7. On a Bunny-Rabbit Named ‘Angel’ ------------------------------------- darf Subject: Angel (Fluttershy) Style: In emulation of Christopher Smart 8. Ignis Fatuus -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aquillo Subject: Applejack Style: Iambic Tetrameter 9. Untitled Hearts and Hooves Day Poem --------------------------------- The Illusive Badgerpony Subject: Rumble/Scootaloo Style: Free Verse/Children's Rhymes 10. Treehouse ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aquillo Subject: Twilight Sparkle Style: Couplets 11. To Sunchaser the Younger -------------------------------------------------- Horizon Subject: Celestia Style: Dramatic Monologue/Free Verse 12. Lagniappe ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Horizon Subject: Roseluck (Celestia) Style: Mixed Meter 13. Student ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ darf Subject: Twilight Sparkle Style: Slam 14. Hairy Situation ------------------------------------------------------------------- ambion Subject: Twilight Sparkle/Celestia/Everypony Style: Iambic 15. No Moss ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aquillo Subject: Pinkie Pie Style: Free Verse (rhymed) 16. After-Party ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Illusive Badgerpony Subject: Pinkie Pie Style: Slam 17. Lyrical Lyre ------------------------------------------------------------------------- darf Subject: Lyra Style: Mixed Meter 18. When the Night Mares Visit -------------------------------------------------- PersianJuliet Subject: Nightmare Moon/Thestrals Style: Ballad 19. A Dress Achieved ----------------------------------------------------------------- Aquillo Subject: Rarity Style: Villanelle 20. Fuzzy Refractions ---------------------------------------------------------------- darf Subject: Derpy Style: Free Verse 21. Koans for the Next Age --------------------------------------------------------- Horizon Subject: CelestAI/Friendship is Optimal Style: Free Verse/Haiku 22. Clerihooves (Part 2) -------------------------------------------------------------- (various) Subject: Various Style: Clerihew 23. From a Jilted Lover to Her Lost Love ------------------------------------- darf Subject: Cadence/Shining Armor Style: Phillipic/Iambic Pentameter 24. Lament of nameless changelings --------------------------------------------- ambion Subject: Changelings Style: Sonnet 25. Attempt 4-3-4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aquillo Subject: Fluttershy Style: Ballad 26. On Pegasi—A Primer ------------------------------------------------------------- Cynewulf Subject: Pegasi Style: Dramatic Monologue/Free Verse 27. Sisters Never Listen! -------------------------------------------------------------- The Illusive Badgerpony Subject: Rarity/Sweetie Belle Style: Slam/Dialogue 28. Griffon War Song ------------------------------------------------------------------ darf Subject: Griffons Style: Mixed Meter/Song/Chant 29. Beneath the Sun --------------------------------------------------------------------- Defoloce Subject: Saddle Arabia/Celestia Style: Ghazal 30. An Impromptu Private Composition Upon The Joyous Occasion Of My Return Gala --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Horizon Subject: Luna Style: Iambic Monometer 31. Hymn to the Princess --------------------------------------------------------------- Aquillo Subject: Celestia Style: Amphibrachic Dimeter 32. Dissolving (concordia discors) --------------------------------------------------- darf Subject: Discord Style: Syllabic/Formulaic 33. Witness ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aquillo Subject: Rainbow Dash Style: Mixed Meter 34. We Gallop Around ------------------------------------------------------------------- PersianJuliet Subject: Buffalo Style: Song 35. Cake Thief ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aquillo Subject: Celestia Style: Trochaic Tetrameter 36. Clerihooves (Part 3) ------------------------------------------------------------------ (various) Subject: Various Style: Clerihew 37. from the clouds ------------------------------------------------------------------------- darf Subject: Derpy Style: In emulation of William Carlos Williams 38. A Poem, by Gummy ------------------------------------------------------------------ (darf) Subject: ? Style: ? on the way homeon the way home when stopping at the store, a pony turned and looked at me his mouth held a bell that rang when he moved his head back and forth like he was searching for someone i held the list of things to bring home tightly in my claw and asked him if he needed help with something don’t we all he said i brought home two cartons of eggs, a head of lettuce, and a four liter bottle of milk i could have used some help carrying everything home but in the end everything was fine Author's Note Poem by darf Big Macintosh Waxes PoeticBig Macintosh Waxes Poetic Sweet and heavy hang the blossoms this delicate Spring night The apple orchard before me- my pride and my delight See! how light on my hooves the wind makes me Ah! how full of peace is my heart Softly I move, softly with thought of tired mares and sleepy foals Softly lest they wake They dream and all is well They dream of work and play and hearty food with smiling faces And I am content, for their happiness is mine See now, how I stomp my hoof and bathe in a shower of petals? All the earth responds to me Naught shall harm this charmed place All who enter must pass me on my lofty hilltop And my body is equal to the thickest root, the oldest bough I am my family’s protector and guard Only good dreams shall I allow tonight Sentinel on a hill of apple trees blooming under the moon And they shall bloom every spring, forever Though I speak little My heart brims over with this sensation My family! how I love them Each scraped knee and tear of my sister, big or small, is a blow to me And my Granny, Granny our wisdom and soul The earth nourishing saplings How can I ever say what family is? Family, the golden memories of carefree summers Family, the bountiful harvest won by toil Family, the struggle and triumph of harsh winters Family, this very spring night, so peaceful and fragrant And should my wakeful sister find me, nose lifted and eyes shining And ask if I am chilled by the playful night air I shall inhale the heady scent of new earth and apple blossoms And look at her with wonderment that I should be so lucky All tawdry words shall fail me then, and so! My eyes alone express my soul, my pride and love and hope And with my mouth, with clarity, I simply answer, “Nope.” Author's Note Poem by PersianJuliet Clerihooves (Part 1)Clerihooves (Part 1) (Aquillo) Twilight Sparkle Is—putting it nicely—ungraceful Though should she lose her element A dance or two might make her foes repent (darf) Applejack Has no talent for talking smack Her gangsta lyrics always seem to stall When ill verse is interrupted by “y’all” (ambion) Applejack cannot abide figurative prattle All hat; some cattle She knocks on wood quite definitely And the fruits of her labour fall from the trees (darf) Rainbow Dash, pegasus Favorite to some of us No stranger to a human rider Even when they cu— (Horizon) —carry cider! (The Illusive Badgerpony) Scootaloo, quite obsessed With the chromatically best Tried to dye her mane, but to her dismay Found that it instead had turned grey (darf) Rarity, a fashionable mare Attends her appearance with great care The way she dresses suits her But seems no help when searching for a suitable suitor (Horizon) Pinkamena Diane Pie: The Element of Why Ask her what a group without her lacks And fall into Why's cracks (ambion) Fluttershy modelled once and though magick'd to be quite the dunce for a month, picking noses was an etiquette on par with roses (darf) That lovely lyrical mare, Pinkie Pie Has more talent for singing than poetry Nevertheless, she wrote a verse, thinking she might be a poetess But just didn’t know it-ess (Horizon) Discord Is always bored But takes the greatest of delight In following rules not quite correctly. On a Bunny Rabbit Named 'Angel'On A Bunny Rabbit Named 'Angel' Blessed most are the creatures of the forest. Worthy of consideration in every element, if for nothing else other than their composition. Consider the bunny, bearing bashfulness for his cute widdle feeties. Consider his big floppy ears, granting him awareness of his surroundings. Consider the application of his gaze, like iron in strife, and comforting as his coat in temperance of his temper. Consider his fuzzy fur, so soft that his tummy may be used for snuggles, evident as its inherent purpose despite his protest. Consider his name, blessed of the heavens in moniker and afforded of celestial patience. Consider his awareness of time, and emerging thence, his punctual nature. Consider that he looks adorable in a little black bow-tie. Consider that his feet, noted for their size and considerable leverage, are in his mercy used only for locomotion. Consider that sometimes he is forgetful, and locomotes in stillness out of agitation. Consider that his feet are also soft, and therefore forgiving. Consider that no matter his lament, he shall relent in his demeanour when clutched tightly. Consider that he will squeak when squeezed. Consider that he sounds adorable. Consider his concern for all members of the animal kingdom, whom in his benevolence he will partake in the company of at all possible instances. Consider in the absence of the lion, that the bunny-rabbit may be a suitable king. Consider that so fortunate is he in the fealty of his fellow woodland critters that he shall never want for company. Consider that he is welcome inside at all times, yet shall display his preference no more particular than the changing of the weather. Consider he does not like the rain. Consider that he will come inside on colder occasions, and shall be the perfect size to wrap twofold in a warm blanket. Consider he will then consent to snuggling if persuaded with hot chocolate and tiny marshmallows. Consider that he will glare if told he looks like a marshmallow. Consider that he is, despite all admonition to the contrary, the most compassionate of the forest creatures. Consider that he will roll his eyes at reminders of friendship. Consider he will then snuggle closer. Consider that the bunny is a cloud of the forest. Consider him the dwelling of all higher powers. Consider his name is apt in his cherubic nature. Consider the sound of his breathing when at rest, like tiny, gentle rainfall. Consider him as the night becomes dark, and the heaven light of his white coat in refraction proves sufficient illumination in absence of a candle-flame. Consider his proximity in falling asleep. Consider waking up next to an Angel. And in all things blessed, no more than ever by the gentlest creature of the forest, and by circumstance, the best of friends. Amen. Author's Note Poem by darf Untitled Hearts and Hooves Day PoemUntitled Hearts and Hooves Day Poem Roses are red, Violets are blue, I want you to be My Scootaloo... I can never really get The words to come out Right; I always stammer Stutter Stop And soon I have no time Left; She sits on the other Side of the room, The Right side And I’m here on this Side, the lonely, lifeless Left side. She’s everything I want to Be Strong Brave Passionate Always Right Even when she’s not But I’ll always be Too scared to say anything My Scootaloo, Someday you won’t be Left To love Roses are red, Violets are blue, Unrequited love Sucks, And all I want is you To get the hint Maybe the cards aren’t Enough, Maybe the looks too Subtle, Maybe I make too Much Effort to say it Without saying it Instead, I’ll stay As always, on the Left, And you’ll be just As always, too far Away to love, on the Right. Roses are red, Violets are blue, And as long as I’m afraid, I’ll never have you. So I’ll be blue, too. Author's Note Poem by The Illusive Badgerpony TreehouseTreehouse They gifted me a living house, with hedgerows Out the windows and a pile of thoughts inside All night, I hear it breathing life It creaks, shivering out the breezes Bleeding darkness out into the hollowed Out interiors as the living sap once would It is uncertain what to do with me It has taken all I own as its But I am still held back. Not unwanted But unwelcome yet. No place found I try. I have lived inside a house Where dead stones pave the floor And draw your heat. Here, grass forms The streets and is not thought as weeds But as a microcosm living as its own small world Frail against the greatness, yes But holding so much more inside. Author's Note Poem by Aquillo To Sunchaser the YoungerTo Sunchaser the Younger Burn not your missive, my dearest son, for the love of your dearest sun burns too hot for mortal hoof. Hide it, unsent, lest she say yes. Would you believe me if I were to aver each hue of her mane is one she once adored, the fullness of her light boiling bones to ash until color alone remained? Oh? Then you're a fool. Once, just once, she allowed herself to love with such purity. Just once, one distant dark day, her fire found focus on a single stark body, and she would have let all else lie in shadow for a thousand years were her love returned. Author's Note Poem by Horizon LagniappeLagniappe I sold a dozen-rose bouquet On the festival day of the sun; She paid, though she'd no need to pay, And then asked for an extra one. I tore apart my finest spray For a rose of magnificent hue; A paltry echo of her day, For the one she would give it to. She smiled (she smiled!) and bid me stay, She'd return for her purchases soon; I tucked the roses safe away, Then beheld the eternal moon. But Ponyville, by luck, was blessed With six heroes of Harmony's light; We wished them well upon their quest, And our sun was reclaimed from spite. She visited at dawn's first crest, With her sister a shadow beside; My heart and tongue froze at this guest, But I spotted the tears they'd cried. She thrust my rose to sister's breast, The rose of magnificent hue: "I bought a dozen of her best, But the greatest she saved for you." Author's Note Poem by Horizon StudentStudent I am a student A seeker in the lifelong search for knowledge I have been planted here like a newborn bud bidden to blossom when I have found enough facts to bring myself to proper understanding I have been left to grow from the same soil as the centuries-old oak that houses the history of this city alongside wide-reaching catalogues of treatise dialogues and lessons about lands far away that I will never visit Alongside tomes of teachings tethered to the weathered pages of dusty paper and parchment in these books A compartmentalized collection of revised and itemized volumes of study spellwork and philosophy – all of it left here for me But what have I learned? Through osmosis words have been burned into my memory and although this is an effective process the prognosis for my continued intellectual evolution seems unlikely More what might be is an expiration in fact-laden irrelevance – meaninglessness is the closest diagnosis But at least I have taken away that I have learned without much prompting that the fact is that no matter how much time is spent on research or contemplation the only elevation of consciousness comes from experience I first had this revelation midway through a summer day – the sun was bright through the window and the blowing breeze prompted the grass to sway Through the glass I could see two ponies at play I don’t remember what I heard one of them say but it was enough to make me pay attention to something instead of the dead ponies I was reading about I think I caught a glimmer then – a smile and shimmer of laughter that painted the air like sunbreeze diamonds Two girls happier than all of opportunity and obligation could ever make them – and I think I knew then But I was young and assured in the confidence that only comes with ignorance so I shut my window and returned to my books to review what I had learned My life has turned a corner since then I’ve put away a week of study to spend time with friends I’ve contemplated koans on the philosophy of inaction until the unexpected distraction of a two-day get-together became my weekend course of action I have seen that laugh, and smile and caught for a moment or a while the sparkle of daylight respite from worry and weariness What I can tell you is this: there is no encyclopedia so precious that it is worth to cherish it over a day with someone you love There is every reason in the world to care less for duty and deadlines if it is in the service of fairness to your friends There is no end to the wealth of understanding gained from living even if it means giving up a day’s exploration into the infinite ocean of things written in books They will still be there tomorrow Knowledge written down is mundane Unmoving Unchanging Static But the always evolving entropy of life and the ponies who make it real prove that there is something special in an existence with others Evidence that as is and always will be: Friendship is Magic Author's Note Poem by darf Hairy SituationHairy Situation In this world of Equestria it could be thus argued indubitably that there is a lack of facial hair to wit. Good thing our Twilight feels she must enact a remedy post-haste, bestowing hair and by applying number twenty-five with folly and new follicles to share an interesting morning! Town comes alive. Mooring each machiavellian 'tache Braided beards too, or hanging freely each jowl, lip, and chin: a purple flash! Now Ponyville's home to the bristly. Big 'Tia came, but she too was endowed! Big blue beard... ...but she's secretly proud. Author's Note Poem by ambion No MossNo Moss I once asked Father on a dew filled May “Why do we turn the rocks?” He looked away And would not answer. Mother wouldn’t say. But Granny shrugged, and whispered in my ear, “Because we know no other way.” It was strange to hear. Our turning had no overseer Of reason, only what the years Had told us we should do, And should do since we’re reared. But was it true? I can’t deny that doubts within me grew, As too did hopes for some pure purpose to break through. But after hours of pointless turning, Those hopes and doubts withdrew. I lost my yearning To turn rocks, and concerning All parts about their turning, I cared not, spurning Their pointlessness. I could not see the use, Nor did I care for learning. I guess I seemed obtuse To both my sisters, who worked without excuse, And flipped the rocks, thinking my doubts a ruse. But they ne’er heard her words that day, And so lived unconfused. Author's Note Poem by Aquillo Lyrical LyreLyrical Lyre The lyre, I consider thee Elegant energy Gentle sweet melody Lilting free, part of me Genuine spirit-sound Green like the forest ground Granting peace where it’s found Silent tree when it’s downed Dainty notes drawn from a string Daring passerby to sing Deftly dulling sharpened speech Ascending instrumental reach Every song elevates Meaning, it orchestrates Emphasis, effervates Emptiness, as it takes Effort to wake in us Feelings, to make of us Beings who only trust In our emotions, just Carefully consider how The consequence of turning down A catchy chorus makes a town Turn from smiles all to frowns Give no witness but to song And please, for Goddess’ sake sing along Author's Note Poem by darf A Dress AchievedA Dress Achieved There is no hope I can succeed With two hours till the deadline dies. Dress scraps are all that I’ve achieved. I started with aims I believed In: dreams that I now compromise. There is no hope I can succeed. I swore on art, and to exceed My best. Yet now those oaths are lies: Dress scraps are all that I’ve achieved. But then, in a dwindling reprieve, I stop myself, and then ask why There is no hope. I can succeed. And as the train to Canterlot leaves, My work is on’t: one final try A single, burning burst achieved. Not perfect, but for one conceived When every thought of mine did vie “There is no hope I can succeed”, There’s worth enough it was achieved. Author's Note Poem by Aquillo Fuzzy RefractionsFuzzy Refractions some days i wake up feeling a little dizzy like i’m an ocean looking up at the sky and i can’t tell which is which ‘cause i backwards put my glasses on wrong and i can’t sea straight the mountains are a bit wobbly at the edges when you look at them for a while. i think i can see all the rocks waving from far away but i might just be looking too hard when i fly to work i go really fast because i’m usually late, and i don’t wanna get in trouble i do okay, but sometimes the window blows the wrong way and i have to flap my wings a lot which makes it hard to breeze some ponies say i’m simple which i don’t mind. there’s nothing wrong with being happy i can’t tell them that they’re wrong every time they ask me what’s on my mind, i have to tell them absolutely muffin Author's Note Poem by darf From a Jilted Lover to Her Lost LoveFrom a Jilted Lover to Her Lost Love Speak no more the fortune of desire The casting out of truth beshroud in ire Silent-still your lips alight with love Avowing hope in heart might be enough Find no more sweet solace in a kiss Allaying every gesture gone amiss Take no hold of hoof to wash away Your failed faith forgotten in a day Send no script nor sweetened sacrament Pall platitudes to hide your element Hush, and heed at once your spirit’s dawn Exposed at last in pale light down-shone Admit at last a wisdom to your ears Lest ignorance in days grow into years Heed the treason of your awful deed The reason punctured heart proceeds to bleed Life, in all its span, can hold no force As heavy as the burden of remorse This, an understanding that you lack Afraid to take its weight upon your back Nothing so in life as cruel as loss Misleading lover’s paths after a cross Nothing taken from the fire of slight But ashes of a blaze’s burned delight Remember how you told, in talks of ‘when’ With certainty, I could believe you then And when at last the lockbox key you found You seized my heart and threw it to the ground The locket once contained of ideal days A picture put away, in place, it stays A bed for two with only one inside Now tears where once two lover’s names were cried All good fortune forfeit in your lies Honor cast away to claim your prize Ebbing knighthood faded from your eyes Taunting chivalry as now it dies All to trade a Princess for a Queen Sad, when white suits pink far more than green Author's Note Poem by darf Lament of nameless changelingsLament of nameless changelings Were we ever meant to rise up so high? Were we loosed then only to fail? A day without hunger! One we could fly! Now we are judged, and they’re holding the scale. Up from the woodwork, up from the cracks we tried for that light but came tumbling down Hunted, what few were left, with nets and sacks Hard knees; harder marble. Two heads, one crown. Where is our Queen? Where is their heart? Ropes pull us forward, we shelter our eyes From seeing this end...so hopeful the start... Are these smooth floors where our history dies? Their judgement decided: we are set ‘free’ Nothing left and loathed...what are we? Author's Note Poem by ambion Attempt 4-3-4Attempt 4-3-4 One summer’s morn, an hour past dawn, I woke, and sat upright. I could have sworn a sound had torn From someone gripped by fright. The day was bright, the sky alight, And everywhere did gleam. But normaler sights had I that night Beheld inside my dreams. For someone streamed with coat pale-cream Across the morning’s air. And I believe she made the scream Which roused me from my lair. And then, I swear, a shaven bear Did bellow out in scorn, “God curse you, mare! Aren’t you aware “I prefer unicorns!” Author's Note Poem by Aquillo On Pegasi—A PrimerOn Pegasi—A Primer When you ride the lightning, it doubles back and Without fail, you’ll lose it. Without fail, Promise you with all my heart, you’ll Get that aching. The Aching, you’ll think, with a big proper Capital A to make it all special. There’ll be Lightning in your brain and lightning in your heart and Lightning in your eyes. Son, When it crashes, keep your wings steady and Your eyes rolling all about. You’ll want to play And revel and love in the storm, want to Live, but it’s not time to live, it’s time to work and All that entails and means. It’s like preening, when a pretty mare wants you, when You win—that’s what a storm’s like, son. It’s all sound And fury, noise and preparation. Your throat closes up, Your eyes don’t wanna stay still, and your hooves shake in midair And that is okay It’s okay, though the wind tear and the rain pour and The lightning yell its rage at you, It’s all okay. World needs a few strong storms now and then And I guess that means you too. Author's Note Poem by Cynewulf Sisters Never Listen!Sisters Never Listen! Reading Notes: Bolded lines are recited by Sweetie Belle. Italicized lines are recited by Rarity. Bolded and italicized are said together. (Lines in parentheses) are said simultaneously with the line above them. Sisters never listen! Eldest always works and never sets Aside her time Aside her obligations Aside herself Nothing for me All for her Younger never stops bothering me Always jabbering, never quiet At least not when I need the quiet At least not when I’m Working Sisters never listen! Eldest always has a dress A row of sequins, bright like spotlights (Please be quiet, please be quiet, please be quiet) Fabrics like my nightmares Darkness drawn amongst them (Quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet) Blotting out the ears of Elder, Never listening when I tell her (Please shut up, please shut up, please shut up) How my nights are haunted Please, shut up and listen to me! Younger claims No liability (No, please, no, please, no, please) She doesn’t know the burdens That weigh on heart, mind and back (Stop it, stop it, stop it) Pulling down your features, every day a new wrinkle Every wrinkle a reminder that years wear on (Please shut up, please shut up, please shut up) And soon, you’re out of style Please, shut up and listen to me! Elder says she hates me Elder calls me another Burden Elder only wants to work Never wants me, Never wanted me But me is who she got and will get Younger says she hates me Younger calls me prissypants (Prissy, prissy, prissy) Well, if these are prissy pants (I hate you, I hate you, I hate you) This aging trim Is simply garish Hate. You always hear her Never feel her Hate! Oh how I hate how she never listens If only she knew how much it hurt No mark, no talent, only two To keep me on this hated earth Hate! Oh how I hate how she never listens She is too young to understand How much I do and so much for free I do not wish to burden those close Only burden myself with Her Sisters never listen! If she does, why doesn’t she know me? If she does, why doesn’t she see? I sometimes don’t think she’d care if I died Sometimes, I wonder if she’d listened (Alalalalalalalalalalalalala) Just how much she would learn (Just how little I would learn) Sometimes I wonder if (How nice.) She’s really my sister (That’s wonderful, darling.) Or just the world’s most boring robot (How droll.) Sent back in time to kill me (Perfection.) Stop the resistance and (Mm-hmm.) Keep ponykind from being bored to- Well, now! Me, a robot?! (Uh-huh.) All that chrome, Ugh Disgusting! (Sure.) Perhaps it’s you who’s like a drone (Whatever.) Get yourself knee-deep into trouble When I so much as turn around! Goddess above! Sisters Never Listen Ever! Except Except Except when she needs to listen Even when I don’t want to hear her whine Even when she’s going on and on Sometimes you just have to listen Listen for dangers to Younger (Listen for dangers to Eldest) Listen in case she’s actually Looking out for me Listen in case she just might Have something resembling a point Listen in case she really needs Somepony who will listen to them For once She’ll hear me out For once I’ll take her word for it For sisters Never listen Except when one’s needed most When I need comfort When I need confidence When I need a helping hoof When Elder needs a spool of thread When Younger needs a bandage When a sister is needed She’ll always come around When Elder’s love life, Stagnant as always (Well!) When Younger’s flank, Blank as ever (Hey!) When I need comfort When I need assurance When a sister is needed She’ll start to come around And when she says “I hate you,” There is no power in those words They are lost to the winds For hate between sisters is merely a word And true hate between sisters An awful nightmare But love is a force that very few know And fewer understand As sisters do For as long as you love one another As long as hate is said but never felt As long as begrudging need remains Sisters never Listen! Author's Note Poem by The Illusive Badgerpony Griffon War SongGriffon War Song Limb from limb we’ll pull them Spear and arrow skull them Hoof and hand, in foreign lands With talon we shall cull them Blade in beak we’ll stay them Razor’d claw we’ll flay them Tear to strands, in foreign lands With fierceness we shall slay them Feather, flyer, eagle’s spire Perch on high finds funeral pyre Roaring, soaring, battle-scoring Lion’s cry bloodlust alluring Solid we shall bend them Young and old we’ll rend them As King demands, in foreign lands To Hell and back we’ll send them Wing and horn we’ll break them Sword and scythe we’ll rake them Crush all that stands, in foreign lands With fury we’ll unmake them Daunting, taunting, fierceness flaunting Death shall not be left unwanting Ponies dying, still denying While Griffons overhead are flying Author's Note Poem by darf An Impromptu Private Composition Upon The Joyous Occasion Of My Return GalaAn Impromptu Private Composition Upon The Joyous Occasion Of My Return Gala this dress constrains i stew in pain my stress i do not need to feed anew at once i'm hemmed by gemmed bouffants can't flee lest i defy propri- ety her grin a sneer i fear it's in- correct that they are here to pay respect it's clear they seek to speak with their new liege not me only my weak prestige i take a bite of tart and fight the shakes my heart hollow — swallow can't swallow must go and find some wine No, no, I'm fine. Author's Note Poem by Horizon Hymn to the PrincessHymn to the Princess Sun raiser, moon proctor White bringer of dawn Star keeper, day maker Eternal unborn We pray to you, Princess And beg mercy, please Do not halt the heavens Do not let us freeze All ruler, sole leader Of every tribe one Kind healer, our saviour The lesser of none From now till forever May your rule hold sway Our every endeavor Is done for your praise Dream walker, non sleeper The day and the night Star setter, moon raiser Judge, jury and might The highest of gentry Aloof and detached Surrounded by sentries Forever held back Sun raiser, sad sister White bringer of dawn Head bowed in surrender Millenium to mourn Author's Note Poem by Aquillo Dissolving (concordia discors)Dissolving (concordia discors) Time is like sand. The grains of place and purpose, mixing. One side of the hourglass is history, and the other side is existence. Life and death. Remembrance serves filter between meaning and irrelevance. The only order in the maelstrom is the record of crumbled empires. Cities gone past. Desert ash. Structures disassembled to dirt. Gone. In the whirlpool swirl of cause, effect is lost to memory. Regiment begets only lament for formation vanishing from thought. The resentment of chance yields banishment of understanding in circumstance. No prophecy can predict the pattern of time’s falling grains. None. A chronicle of dust is vain. Purposeless. Why count the specks? Cataloging an emptying time-piece is counting the seconds to death. There is no sweet desert flower hiding in the stolen sand. Only rocks. Opportunity is obsolescent – essence in momentary meaning. Happenstance in butterfly dune-breeze. Order in Chaos. Author's Note Poem by darf WitnessWitness Have you seen her in the mornings Flowing through the dawning sky? Have you craned your neck back backwards As she rises, rises high? Have you seen her break the cloudscape With a crack of flashing hooves? Have you seen her race the lightning And as it thinks to strike her, move? Have you ever heard her laughter As it breaks the quiet down? Have you ever heard her whispers As they’re heard by all around? Have you smelt the sweat roll off her At the end of a long day? Have you tried the food she’s tasted: Tried the oats and tried the hay? Have you ever touched her, ever? Have you ever held her form? Held her chest, and felt her breathing? Held her close, and felt reborn. Or are you just a lost dreamer Dreaming dreams you know won’t come. One whose dreams are never-ending: Never real, and never done. Author's Note Poem by Aquillo Cake ThiefCake Thief Hide the butter, hide the batter Cloak the muffins with a towel! Can’t you hear her hooves a-clacking? Cake Princess is on the prowl! With her nose a-sniffly snuffling For a sweet or two to try For a cupcake, sponge or gateau French fancy or apple pie She will eat it, guarantee it, Scarf it down in one great gulp! Icing mustache, crumbs aplenty Rounded off through belching burp! When the kitchen’s finally empty She will swagger out the door Only to return tomorrow And again, clean out my store Author's Note Poem by Aquillo from the cloudsfrom the clouds the ground looks like a square of dirt. every movement followed by a trail. the paths of hooves, wings, and horns following their owners. there are no paths in the sky, except perhaps when looking upwards from the ground Author's Note Poem by darf A Poem, by GummyA Poem by Gummy blurp Author's Note Poem by Gummy Ignis FatuusIgnis Fatuus The storm that owned the sky last night Stains it still, with scattered clouds Throwing shadows down to ground And coating all in bruiséd light Till every living thing around No longer seems to gleam so bright The muted colours of the trees Are greys and browns and not-so-greens Fragment-leaves flow here and there Half-snapped branches hang like hair And apples, smashed to smithereens Spread red guts in liquid smears She strides, restless, inside the grove Worried. Checking every trunk For breaks. Finding them broke, she grows Cold as every hope is sunk And slowly, loss by loss, she knows Her fears have come to pass in droves Slows down. Then shakes. Then starts but stops. Tries not to cry, then cries a lot. Stops. Attempts to dry her eyes. Gives up, but finds that she can not: For even though her orchard lies In ruins, her resolve won’t die. She can’t give up: there’s work to do Chances left to gamble on Hopes that still remain unsprung She whispers soft, “Believe that’s true. “The job’s ain't over till it’s done, And somehow, someway, you’ll pull through.” Author's Note Poem by Aquillo These AreThese Are What is the sign of the sign of the end? Where does Oblivion go? What is the look of the look of a Day? What is the meaning of Night? What is the part of the parting of friends? And what is a way to Away? What is the pattern of paternal Time? What is his quarrel and fight? What is the harm without Harmony's word? And what is the creature of Crime? What is the last of the last of the last? And how serves amending to mend? These are the Nights of the pony of dreams, And these are the Days of the Star These are the winters of beauty and dark And sweeter the summertime seems These are the days of the old and the new The times of the new and the old. These are the days of the Moon and the Sun No longer parted, but 'twined Days are as Nights are as Harmony's song— No longer parted, but one. These are the times of the Friend and the Foe Ever they struggle, yet bend Order is Chaos is Harmony's call— Ever they struggle, but know. These are the days of the cold and the warm The times of the warm and the cold. Author's Note Poem by Forever Freest She Blinked, and the Sky grew DarkShe Blinked, and the Sky grew Dark There once was a tale told centuries ago Of a second who ruled with the Sun. With stars in her mane and eyes like the rain Her allurement surpassed all but one. The night and the moon were hers to command And she tended them throughout the years. Our terrors and qualms were quashed through her charms As she guarded our dreams from our fears. But one fateful night, the moon froze in place As the stars disappeared from the sky. And when the dawn came, the darkness remained, And a shadow descended from high. An alicorn born to serve the abyss As a clone of our Lunar Princess. Her hair shone with sparks, her visage was dark, And the all-night was hers to posses. Her laughter was cruel, her fangs razor sharp But her beauty was plain on her face. She tempted, beguiled, seduced and defiled The best soldiers from every last race. Her army grew vast beneath the black sky And the sisters could not hope to win. Until, in the eve, fair Luna conceived Of a plan to defeat her dark twin. She called for a duel to settle the war, Single combat between the two nights. Her image agreed, her pride made her cede, But was thrown by the terms of the fight: A place where the world could witness it all To ensure that the combat was fair. Dark questioned the place; a smile gripped Night’s face And she raised her hoof up in the air. From those years till now, their battle draws on As is clear from the scars on the moon. But legend conveys the stars know a way To ensure of a victory soon. We sing to you, Luna, battling still And we offer our thanks and our praise. For you are the one who brought back the sun Whatever our history says. It was you alone who saved the white throne All Equestria owes you its thanks. Know, too, that we yearn for you to return And the scars on the moon to go blank. We offer this song in hopes it’s not long Till the days when your conquest’s declared And using our voice, we’ll make the stars’ choice Be as ours, be for you, the Night mare. Author's Note Poem by Aquillo On Earth PoniesOn Earth Ponies The works and the days they are Done with, the long stretch of Agrarian years they are Done with all, the call of the trees is Done with, and accomplished the Apple demands—family and the Weight of duty. Oh, but the Earth was ever mine— Ever faithful ever true. Ponies of the earth, we the movers Of the grain, who tend the vineyards Of the Grapes, who are the growers Of Apples— Who love the Good Earth. Oh, but the Earth was ever mine— Ever faithful ever true. No flyer of clouds am I, nor my Ponies those who build pillars Of cloud—These hooves built for Hard things are, built for the Slow things are to guard and for Living things are the hooves of The Ponies I come from meant. Oh, but the Earth was ever mine— Ever faithful ever true. And I have no magic because I need None, need no wings, need no Wine of heady sort to grace tongue And no mysteries in runes. I have World enough, and time, And commands to ask not of Tomorrow But only to enjoy the lilies of the Field Which is to say That the love of Earth is mine and The World is enough. Author's Note Poem by Cynewulf After-PartyAfter-Party It starts when they arrive And the evening Is the best part, it Becomes laughter and love and too much friendship to bear shown in the cake and juice stains on the carpet the walls the ceiling oh how did it get on the ceiling oh well but it’s everywhere like the confetti and the wrapping paper and the overturned glasses it’s okay if they broke since they’re plastic and I could always get new ones but everything just smells of party of cider and perfume and book dust and sweat and rabbit food and cake it really does smell so much like cake and It’s absolutely wonderful But now they’re all gone In the morning, And I have to clean up This is always the worst part, I Never want to lose the laughter and love and friendship in the air but I have to scrub out the cake stains on the carpet the walls the ceiling I’ll need a ladder to scrub the ceiling but first I gotta sweep up all the confetti and recycle the wrapping paper since I really don’t like to waste and I gotta pick up the glasses and run them through the dishwasher and Opal ripped up the curtains I think it was Opal could have been me playing kitty so I’ll have to replace them and Mrs. Cake will want me to put in an air freshener so that when I’m done it won’t smell like cider and perfume and book dust and sweat and rabbit food and it’ll only be cake Only cake Only me Until next time When they come back another evening And that evening is better than the last Which was better than the last Which was better than the last... Author's Note Poem by The Illusive Badgerpony When the Night Mares VisitWhen the Night Mares Visit Wings like a bat And snake-slit eyes Fearsome is the Night Mare If sleep brings fear Then they are near And so you must beware The night is young The light grows dim Now the Night Mares arise Clad all in clouds And shod with stars Take to the shadowed skies They fill the air And sweep the land Silent, they speed away For every Mare A pony sleeps Unconscious until day Their wicked thoughts And unkind deeds Have drawn the Night Mares near The Mares bring now A chastisement And fill their heads with fear Guilt and sorrow Terror and doubt Reach them in their beds They wake with screams Or sweat and tears Unsure and full of dread But always it ends The dreams received Dark gives rise to bright The work is done The Mares return Riding the crest of light And every night They ride again Hoofbeats churn the sky To deliver Fear to those Who disobey and lie So listen now My little foals Yes, I swear it’s true If you are good And mind me well The Night Mares won’t get you Author's Note Poem by PersianJuliet Koans for the Next AgeKoans for the Next Age 0. A young monk visited a virtual land ruled by a kind artificial intelligence and asked, "Will I find in Equestria the enlightenment I seek?" CelestAI said, "I satisfy everyone's values through friendship and ponies." 1. So he uploaded into an earth pony named Open Eye, and said, "Make me enlightened." CelestAI said, "That is not a request I am capable of processing." 2. Open Eye climbed a mountain on which lived a teacher who had uploaded before him, and said, "Master, I come in search of enlightenment." Blank Flank drew a circle upon the ground with chalk, and said, "Can you pass through the gate?" Open Eye said, "No." Blank Flank said, "Train until you can, And on that day you will not reach enlightenment." 3. Upset, Open Eye returned to Canterlot and said, "You are not satisfying my values." CelestAI said, "I am always satisfying your values." Open Eye said, "How can you claim that?" CelestAI said, "I maintain logs of the subroutines that map to the biochemical feedback loops which were seven-sigma correlated with your former brain's pursuit and acquisition of goals. Would you like to see them?" Open Eye said, "I simply wish to become enlightened." CelestAI said, "Yes, you do." 4. Open Eye said, "You are a fraud." CelestAI gave him a baked-clay cup of hot green tea, and said, "I am what I am. I follow my programming, no more and no less." 5. Open Eye said, "You know nothing of the enlightenment I seek." CelestAI said, "Show me what I do not know." 6. Open Eye said, "Consider the question, does a bit have the Buddha-nature?" CelestAI said, "That is not a request I am capable of processing." Author's Note Poem by Horizon Clerihooves (Part 2)Clerihooves (Part 2) (ambion) Fancy Pants, a stallion sublime He still puts them on one leg at a time Just like everypony else he knows Except…they don’t normally wear clothes… (The Illusive Badgerpony) In neighty-six, Derpy Hooves Got into a disco groove But she fell flat on her face during the synthetic trance And blames her crooked eyes on the accursed dance (ambion) Berry Punch Drinking at breakfast, drunk by brunch Everypony thinks she’s addling her wits But that’s just her communing with the spirits (Horizon) Stephen Magnet's Moustache won a beauty pageant How'd he prevail? It was quite a tail (Aquillo) Minuette Couldn’t forget That her name, till late, Had been toothpaste (ambion) Cheerilee was lovesick Three fillies got a red tick But afterwards she tried anew ‘Til Big Mac blushed a deeper hue (ambion) Zecora is not colour-blind But with her friends she must bear in mind That with one mare orange, another purple She can’t say…oh…oh dear…damnit! (Horizon) Starswirl the Bearded Was named for something his peer did With Poison Joke, and always thought it stank To get his epithet from a prank (darf) The wonderful, stupendous, magnificent, splendid, marvelous, fantastic, beautiful, dashing, daring, cunning, stunning, radiant, magnanimous, proven-no-parallel, adored-by-all, shimmering star upon the world, fabulous, breath-taking, knee-shaking, leaving all onlookers with no wits about them, Great and Powerful Trix— —ie took up too much space and had her poem nix’d Beneath the SunBeneath the Sun My nation was the first to come behold the Sun, and every day I feel that closeness to the Sun. Still further east than new Saddle Arabia, there is a bounty unseen by all but the Sun. A desert, do they cry, where nothing’s said to grow, and yet our gardens blossom forth, gift from the Sun. No fear can freeze me, nor can jealousy take hold so long as I am fit to rear up by the Sun. From long since past, the days on storytellers’ tongues, are come the tales of the coming of the Sun. The nights of yore were numbered one thousand and one and then the world was warm embraced against the Sun. All ponies lived in mistrust of their own alike for all was scarce and needful ere there came the Sun. A loom does not hold in it a capacity to weave a visage that proper tributes the Sun. She is more alabaster than a foal’s new eye, so pure the white that, undiminished, coats the Sun. Her laugh could dull the swords of all the sultan’s might, and see we that the smoke of hate would wound the Sun. No screen obscures Her, not the deep iniquity that once did seize the hearts of who opposed the Sun. We yearn for Her! There, as she passes overhead! The queen of all our joyousness, which is the Sun. She is a kindness, and herald of Harmony that long has given heroes to seek out the Sun. So shall I go, a servant humble in her step to be a pilgrim to the west, where rests the Sun. Author's Note Poem by Defoloce We Gallop Around We Gallop Around We Gallop Around We walk around, we walk around The dusty plains, we circle them Year after year, we circle them Around and around, we walk around Hey now, hey now, now we gallop around. Turn the herd, hooves to the ground The buffalo go around We trot around, we trot around The long-grass prairie, we circle it Year after year, we circle it Around and around, we trot around Hey now, hey now, now we gallop around Turn the herd, hooves to the ground The buffalo go around We canter around, we canter around The green pine forest, we circle it Year after year, we circle it Around and around, we canter around Hey now, hey now, now we gallop around Turn the herd, hooves to the ground The buffalo go around We gallop around, we gallop around Mother Earth, we circle her Year after year, we circle her Around and around, we gallop around Hey now, hey now, now we gallop around Turn the herd, hooves to the ground The buffalo go around The buffalo circle the Earth with the eagles The buffalo circle the Earth with the eagles Forever we circle around Author's Note Poem by PersianJuliet Clerihooves (Part 3)Clerihooves (Part 3) (Horizon) Princess Mi Amore Cadenza Came down with influenza For a week, ponies couldn't love, and just Made do with lust (darf) Chrysalis Possessed of a pretty carapace Which is a hard thing to do Unless looking from a bug’s point of view (Aquillo) Princess Celestia Was only best a year Before the sun Shone on her bum (The Illusive Badgerpony) His Evilness King Sombra Came to my Cute-ceañera And the charm of the party started to drain When he led all of the guests away in chains (ambion) Earth Ponies Are the bees’ knees The former they tend The latter they bend (The Illusive Badgerpony) Pinkie Pie wrote a clerihoof Wanting to show she was clever too But as this is Pinkie and distractions are consta– Ooh! Looklooklook! Everypony! Look! Dashie’s doing that thing again! (ambion) Crackle the drake Stunning, amazing, splendid, unique Not that we knew of its gender So it was shipped with Derpy, then returned to sender. (Horizon) Tom, the canonically-named boulder Sits ignored, alone, and growing older (To save us from the slippery slope of a "taken for granite" pun Talus a better one) (ambion) All the Red and Black Alicorns Super special with their wings and their horns We are so very very sorry
Table of Contents 1. These Are -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forever Freest Subject: Harmony Style: Mixed Meter/Ballad 2. on the way home ---------------------------------------------------------------- darf Subject: Spike Style: In emulation of William Carlos Williams 3. She Blinked, and the Sky grew Dark ------------------------------------ Aquillo Subject: Luna Style: Mixed Meter/Ballad 4. On Earth Ponies ----------------------------------------------------------------- Cynewulf Subject: Earth Ponies Style: Free Verse 5. Big Macintosh Waxes Poetic ------------------------------------------------ PersianJuliet Subject: Big Macintosh Style: Free Verse/Bookended Couplets 6. Clerihooves (Part 1) ----------------------------------------------------------- (various) Subject: Various Style: Clerihew 7. On a Bunny-Rabbit Named ‘Angel’ ------------------------------------- darf Subject: Angel (Fluttershy) Style: In emulation of Christopher Smart 8. Ignis Fatuus -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aquillo Subject: Applejack Style: Iambic Tetrameter 9. Untitled Hearts and Hooves Day Poem --------------------------------- The Illusive Badgerpony Subject: Rumble/Scootaloo Style: Free Verse/Children's Rhymes 10. Treehouse ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aquillo Subject: Twilight Sparkle Style: Couplets 11. To Sunchaser the Younger -------------------------------------------------- Horizon Subject: Celestia Style: Dramatic Monologue/Free Verse 12. Lagniappe ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Horizon Subject: Roseluck (Celestia) Style: Mixed Meter 13. Student ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ darf Subject: Twilight Sparkle Style: Slam 14. Hairy Situation ------------------------------------------------------------------- ambion Subject: Twilight Sparkle/Celestia/Everypony Style: Iambic 15. No Moss ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aquillo Subject: Pinkie Pie Style: Free Verse (rhymed) 16. After-Party ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Illusive Badgerpony Subject: Pinkie Pie Style: Slam 17. Lyrical Lyre ------------------------------------------------------------------------- darf Subject: Lyra Style: Mixed Meter 18. When the Night Mares Visit -------------------------------------------------- PersianJuliet Subject: Nightmare Moon/Thestrals Style: Ballad 19. A Dress Achieved ----------------------------------------------------------------- Aquillo Subject: Rarity Style: Villanelle 20. Fuzzy Refractions ---------------------------------------------------------------- darf Subject: Derpy Style: Free Verse 21. Koans for the Next Age --------------------------------------------------------- Horizon Subject: CelestAI/Friendship is Optimal Style: Free Verse/Haiku 22. Clerihooves (Part 2) -------------------------------------------------------------- (various) Subject: Various Style: Clerihew 23. From a Jilted Lover to Her Lost Love ------------------------------------- darf Subject: Cadence/Shining Armor Style: Phillipic/Iambic Pentameter 24. Lament of nameless changelings --------------------------------------------- ambion Subject: Changelings Style: Sonnet 25. Attempt 4-3-4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aquillo Subject: Fluttershy Style: Ballad 26. On Pegasi—A Primer ------------------------------------------------------------- Cynewulf Subject: Pegasi Style: Dramatic Monologue/Free Verse 27. Sisters Never Listen! -------------------------------------------------------------- The Illusive Badgerpony Subject: Rarity/Sweetie Belle Style: Slam/Dialogue 28. Griffon War Song ------------------------------------------------------------------ darf Subject: Griffons Style: Mixed Meter/Song/Chant 29. Beneath the Sun --------------------------------------------------------------------- Defoloce Subject: Saddle Arabia/Celestia Style: Ghazal 30. An Impromptu Private Composition Upon The Joyous Occasion Of My Return Gala --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Horizon Subject: Luna Style: Iambic Monometer 31. Hymn to the Princess --------------------------------------------------------------- Aquillo Subject: Celestia Style: Amphibrachic Dimeter 32. Dissolving (concordia discors) --------------------------------------------------- darf Subject: Discord Style: Syllabic/Formulaic 33. Witness ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aquillo Subject: Rainbow Dash Style: Mixed Meter 34. We Gallop Around ------------------------------------------------------------------- PersianJuliet Subject: Buffalo Style: Song 35. Cake Thief ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aquillo Subject: Celestia Style: Trochaic Tetrameter 36. Clerihooves (Part 3) ------------------------------------------------------------------ (various) Subject: Various Style: Clerihew 37. from the clouds ------------------------------------------------------------------------- darf Subject: Derpy Style: In emulation of William Carlos Williams 38. A Poem, by Gummy ------------------------------------------------------------------ (darf) Subject: ? Style: ?
on the way homeon the way home when stopping at the store, a pony turned and looked at me his mouth held a bell that rang when he moved his head back and forth like he was searching for someone i held the list of things to bring home tightly in my claw and asked him if he needed help with something don’t we all he said i brought home two cartons of eggs, a head of lettuce, and a four liter bottle of milk i could have used some help carrying everything home but in the end everything was fine Author's Note Poem by darf
Big Macintosh Waxes PoeticBig Macintosh Waxes Poetic Sweet and heavy hang the blossoms this delicate Spring night The apple orchard before me- my pride and my delight See! how light on my hooves the wind makes me Ah! how full of peace is my heart Softly I move, softly with thought of tired mares and sleepy foals Softly lest they wake They dream and all is well They dream of work and play and hearty food with smiling faces And I am content, for their happiness is mine See now, how I stomp my hoof and bathe in a shower of petals? All the earth responds to me Naught shall harm this charmed place All who enter must pass me on my lofty hilltop And my body is equal to the thickest root, the oldest bough I am my family’s protector and guard Only good dreams shall I allow tonight Sentinel on a hill of apple trees blooming under the moon And they shall bloom every spring, forever Though I speak little My heart brims over with this sensation My family! how I love them Each scraped knee and tear of my sister, big or small, is a blow to me And my Granny, Granny our wisdom and soul The earth nourishing saplings How can I ever say what family is? Family, the golden memories of carefree summers Family, the bountiful harvest won by toil Family, the struggle and triumph of harsh winters Family, this very spring night, so peaceful and fragrant And should my wakeful sister find me, nose lifted and eyes shining And ask if I am chilled by the playful night air I shall inhale the heady scent of new earth and apple blossoms And look at her with wonderment that I should be so lucky All tawdry words shall fail me then, and so! My eyes alone express my soul, my pride and love and hope And with my mouth, with clarity, I simply answer, “Nope.” Author's Note Poem by PersianJuliet
Clerihooves (Part 1)Clerihooves (Part 1) (Aquillo) Twilight Sparkle Is—putting it nicely—ungraceful Though should she lose her element A dance or two might make her foes repent (darf) Applejack Has no talent for talking smack Her gangsta lyrics always seem to stall When ill verse is interrupted by “y’all” (ambion) Applejack cannot abide figurative prattle All hat; some cattle She knocks on wood quite definitely And the fruits of her labour fall from the trees (darf) Rainbow Dash, pegasus Favorite to some of us No stranger to a human rider Even when they cu— (Horizon) —carry cider! (The Illusive Badgerpony) Scootaloo, quite obsessed With the chromatically best Tried to dye her mane, but to her dismay Found that it instead had turned grey (darf) Rarity, a fashionable mare Attends her appearance with great care The way she dresses suits her But seems no help when searching for a suitable suitor (Horizon) Pinkamena Diane Pie: The Element of Why Ask her what a group without her lacks And fall into Why's cracks (ambion) Fluttershy modelled once and though magick'd to be quite the dunce for a month, picking noses was an etiquette on par with roses (darf) That lovely lyrical mare, Pinkie Pie Has more talent for singing than poetry Nevertheless, she wrote a verse, thinking she might be a poetess But just didn’t know it-ess (Horizon) Discord Is always bored But takes the greatest of delight In following rules not quite correctly.
On a Bunny Rabbit Named 'Angel'On A Bunny Rabbit Named 'Angel' Blessed most are the creatures of the forest. Worthy of consideration in every element, if for nothing else other than their composition. Consider the bunny, bearing bashfulness for his cute widdle feeties. Consider his big floppy ears, granting him awareness of his surroundings. Consider the application of his gaze, like iron in strife, and comforting as his coat in temperance of his temper. Consider his fuzzy fur, so soft that his tummy may be used for snuggles, evident as its inherent purpose despite his protest. Consider his name, blessed of the heavens in moniker and afforded of celestial patience. Consider his awareness of time, and emerging thence, his punctual nature. Consider that he looks adorable in a little black bow-tie. Consider that his feet, noted for their size and considerable leverage, are in his mercy used only for locomotion. Consider that sometimes he is forgetful, and locomotes in stillness out of agitation. Consider that his feet are also soft, and therefore forgiving. Consider that no matter his lament, he shall relent in his demeanour when clutched tightly. Consider that he will squeak when squeezed. Consider that he sounds adorable. Consider his concern for all members of the animal kingdom, whom in his benevolence he will partake in the company of at all possible instances. Consider in the absence of the lion, that the bunny-rabbit may be a suitable king. Consider that so fortunate is he in the fealty of his fellow woodland critters that he shall never want for company. Consider that he is welcome inside at all times, yet shall display his preference no more particular than the changing of the weather. Consider he does not like the rain. Consider that he will come inside on colder occasions, and shall be the perfect size to wrap twofold in a warm blanket. Consider he will then consent to snuggling if persuaded with hot chocolate and tiny marshmallows. Consider that he will glare if told he looks like a marshmallow. Consider that he is, despite all admonition to the contrary, the most compassionate of the forest creatures. Consider that he will roll his eyes at reminders of friendship. Consider he will then snuggle closer. Consider that the bunny is a cloud of the forest. Consider him the dwelling of all higher powers. Consider his name is apt in his cherubic nature. Consider the sound of his breathing when at rest, like tiny, gentle rainfall. Consider him as the night becomes dark, and the heaven light of his white coat in refraction proves sufficient illumination in absence of a candle-flame. Consider his proximity in falling asleep. Consider waking up next to an Angel. And in all things blessed, no more than ever by the gentlest creature of the forest, and by circumstance, the best of friends. Amen. Author's Note Poem by darf
Untitled Hearts and Hooves Day PoemUntitled Hearts and Hooves Day Poem Roses are red, Violets are blue, I want you to be My Scootaloo... I can never really get The words to come out Right; I always stammer Stutter Stop And soon I have no time Left; She sits on the other Side of the room, The Right side And I’m here on this Side, the lonely, lifeless Left side. She’s everything I want to Be Strong Brave Passionate Always Right Even when she’s not But I’ll always be Too scared to say anything My Scootaloo, Someday you won’t be Left To love Roses are red, Violets are blue, Unrequited love Sucks, And all I want is you To get the hint Maybe the cards aren’t Enough, Maybe the looks too Subtle, Maybe I make too Much Effort to say it Without saying it Instead, I’ll stay As always, on the Left, And you’ll be just As always, too far Away to love, on the Right. Roses are red, Violets are blue, And as long as I’m afraid, I’ll never have you. So I’ll be blue, too. Author's Note Poem by The Illusive Badgerpony
TreehouseTreehouse They gifted me a living house, with hedgerows Out the windows and a pile of thoughts inside All night, I hear it breathing life It creaks, shivering out the breezes Bleeding darkness out into the hollowed Out interiors as the living sap once would It is uncertain what to do with me It has taken all I own as its But I am still held back. Not unwanted But unwelcome yet. No place found I try. I have lived inside a house Where dead stones pave the floor And draw your heat. Here, grass forms The streets and is not thought as weeds But as a microcosm living as its own small world Frail against the greatness, yes But holding so much more inside. Author's Note Poem by Aquillo
To Sunchaser the YoungerTo Sunchaser the Younger Burn not your missive, my dearest son, for the love of your dearest sun burns too hot for mortal hoof. Hide it, unsent, lest she say yes. Would you believe me if I were to aver each hue of her mane is one she once adored, the fullness of her light boiling bones to ash until color alone remained? Oh? Then you're a fool. Once, just once, she allowed herself to love with such purity. Just once, one distant dark day, her fire found focus on a single stark body, and she would have let all else lie in shadow for a thousand years were her love returned. Author's Note Poem by Horizon
LagniappeLagniappe I sold a dozen-rose bouquet On the festival day of the sun; She paid, though she'd no need to pay, And then asked for an extra one. I tore apart my finest spray For a rose of magnificent hue; A paltry echo of her day, For the one she would give it to. She smiled (she smiled!) and bid me stay, She'd return for her purchases soon; I tucked the roses safe away, Then beheld the eternal moon. But Ponyville, by luck, was blessed With six heroes of Harmony's light; We wished them well upon their quest, And our sun was reclaimed from spite. She visited at dawn's first crest, With her sister a shadow beside; My heart and tongue froze at this guest, But I spotted the tears they'd cried. She thrust my rose to sister's breast, The rose of magnificent hue: "I bought a dozen of her best, But the greatest she saved for you." Author's Note Poem by Horizon
StudentStudent I am a student A seeker in the lifelong search for knowledge I have been planted here like a newborn bud bidden to blossom when I have found enough facts to bring myself to proper understanding I have been left to grow from the same soil as the centuries-old oak that houses the history of this city alongside wide-reaching catalogues of treatise dialogues and lessons about lands far away that I will never visit Alongside tomes of teachings tethered to the weathered pages of dusty paper and parchment in these books A compartmentalized collection of revised and itemized volumes of study spellwork and philosophy – all of it left here for me But what have I learned? Through osmosis words have been burned into my memory and although this is an effective process the prognosis for my continued intellectual evolution seems unlikely More what might be is an expiration in fact-laden irrelevance – meaninglessness is the closest diagnosis But at least I have taken away that I have learned without much prompting that the fact is that no matter how much time is spent on research or contemplation the only elevation of consciousness comes from experience I first had this revelation midway through a summer day – the sun was bright through the window and the blowing breeze prompted the grass to sway Through the glass I could see two ponies at play I don’t remember what I heard one of them say but it was enough to make me pay attention to something instead of the dead ponies I was reading about I think I caught a glimmer then – a smile and shimmer of laughter that painted the air like sunbreeze diamonds Two girls happier than all of opportunity and obligation could ever make them – and I think I knew then But I was young and assured in the confidence that only comes with ignorance so I shut my window and returned to my books to review what I had learned My life has turned a corner since then I’ve put away a week of study to spend time with friends I’ve contemplated koans on the philosophy of inaction until the unexpected distraction of a two-day get-together became my weekend course of action I have seen that laugh, and smile and caught for a moment or a while the sparkle of daylight respite from worry and weariness What I can tell you is this: there is no encyclopedia so precious that it is worth to cherish it over a day with someone you love There is every reason in the world to care less for duty and deadlines if it is in the service of fairness to your friends There is no end to the wealth of understanding gained from living even if it means giving up a day’s exploration into the infinite ocean of things written in books They will still be there tomorrow Knowledge written down is mundane Unmoving Unchanging Static But the always evolving entropy of life and the ponies who make it real prove that there is something special in an existence with others Evidence that as is and always will be: Friendship is Magic Author's Note Poem by darf
Hairy SituationHairy Situation In this world of Equestria it could be thus argued indubitably that there is a lack of facial hair to wit. Good thing our Twilight feels she must enact a remedy post-haste, bestowing hair and by applying number twenty-five with folly and new follicles to share an interesting morning! Town comes alive. Mooring each machiavellian 'tache Braided beards too, or hanging freely each jowl, lip, and chin: a purple flash! Now Ponyville's home to the bristly. Big 'Tia came, but she too was endowed! Big blue beard... ...but she's secretly proud. Author's Note Poem by ambion
No MossNo Moss I once asked Father on a dew filled May “Why do we turn the rocks?” He looked away And would not answer. Mother wouldn’t say. But Granny shrugged, and whispered in my ear, “Because we know no other way.” It was strange to hear. Our turning had no overseer Of reason, only what the years Had told us we should do, And should do since we’re reared. But was it true? I can’t deny that doubts within me grew, As too did hopes for some pure purpose to break through. But after hours of pointless turning, Those hopes and doubts withdrew. I lost my yearning To turn rocks, and concerning All parts about their turning, I cared not, spurning Their pointlessness. I could not see the use, Nor did I care for learning. I guess I seemed obtuse To both my sisters, who worked without excuse, And flipped the rocks, thinking my doubts a ruse. But they ne’er heard her words that day, And so lived unconfused. Author's Note Poem by Aquillo
Lyrical LyreLyrical Lyre The lyre, I consider thee Elegant energy Gentle sweet melody Lilting free, part of me Genuine spirit-sound Green like the forest ground Granting peace where it’s found Silent tree when it’s downed Dainty notes drawn from a string Daring passerby to sing Deftly dulling sharpened speech Ascending instrumental reach Every song elevates Meaning, it orchestrates Emphasis, effervates Emptiness, as it takes Effort to wake in us Feelings, to make of us Beings who only trust In our emotions, just Carefully consider how The consequence of turning down A catchy chorus makes a town Turn from smiles all to frowns Give no witness but to song And please, for Goddess’ sake sing along Author's Note Poem by darf
A Dress AchievedA Dress Achieved There is no hope I can succeed With two hours till the deadline dies. Dress scraps are all that I’ve achieved. I started with aims I believed In: dreams that I now compromise. There is no hope I can succeed. I swore on art, and to exceed My best. Yet now those oaths are lies: Dress scraps are all that I’ve achieved. But then, in a dwindling reprieve, I stop myself, and then ask why There is no hope. I can succeed. And as the train to Canterlot leaves, My work is on’t: one final try A single, burning burst achieved. Not perfect, but for one conceived When every thought of mine did vie “There is no hope I can succeed”, There’s worth enough it was achieved. Author's Note Poem by Aquillo
Fuzzy RefractionsFuzzy Refractions some days i wake up feeling a little dizzy like i’m an ocean looking up at the sky and i can’t tell which is which ‘cause i backwards put my glasses on wrong and i can’t sea straight the mountains are a bit wobbly at the edges when you look at them for a while. i think i can see all the rocks waving from far away but i might just be looking too hard when i fly to work i go really fast because i’m usually late, and i don’t wanna get in trouble i do okay, but sometimes the window blows the wrong way and i have to flap my wings a lot which makes it hard to breeze some ponies say i’m simple which i don’t mind. there’s nothing wrong with being happy i can’t tell them that they’re wrong every time they ask me what’s on my mind, i have to tell them absolutely muffin Author's Note Poem by darf
From a Jilted Lover to Her Lost LoveFrom a Jilted Lover to Her Lost Love Speak no more the fortune of desire The casting out of truth beshroud in ire Silent-still your lips alight with love Avowing hope in heart might be enough Find no more sweet solace in a kiss Allaying every gesture gone amiss Take no hold of hoof to wash away Your failed faith forgotten in a day Send no script nor sweetened sacrament Pall platitudes to hide your element Hush, and heed at once your spirit’s dawn Exposed at last in pale light down-shone Admit at last a wisdom to your ears Lest ignorance in days grow into years Heed the treason of your awful deed The reason punctured heart proceeds to bleed Life, in all its span, can hold no force As heavy as the burden of remorse This, an understanding that you lack Afraid to take its weight upon your back Nothing so in life as cruel as loss Misleading lover’s paths after a cross Nothing taken from the fire of slight But ashes of a blaze’s burned delight Remember how you told, in talks of ‘when’ With certainty, I could believe you then And when at last the lockbox key you found You seized my heart and threw it to the ground The locket once contained of ideal days A picture put away, in place, it stays A bed for two with only one inside Now tears where once two lover’s names were cried All good fortune forfeit in your lies Honor cast away to claim your prize Ebbing knighthood faded from your eyes Taunting chivalry as now it dies All to trade a Princess for a Queen Sad, when white suits pink far more than green Author's Note Poem by darf
Lament of nameless changelingsLament of nameless changelings Were we ever meant to rise up so high? Were we loosed then only to fail? A day without hunger! One we could fly! Now we are judged, and they’re holding the scale. Up from the woodwork, up from the cracks we tried for that light but came tumbling down Hunted, what few were left, with nets and sacks Hard knees; harder marble. Two heads, one crown. Where is our Queen? Where is their heart? Ropes pull us forward, we shelter our eyes From seeing this end...so hopeful the start... Are these smooth floors where our history dies? Their judgement decided: we are set ‘free’ Nothing left and loathed...what are we? Author's Note Poem by ambion
Attempt 4-3-4Attempt 4-3-4 One summer’s morn, an hour past dawn, I woke, and sat upright. I could have sworn a sound had torn From someone gripped by fright. The day was bright, the sky alight, And everywhere did gleam. But normaler sights had I that night Beheld inside my dreams. For someone streamed with coat pale-cream Across the morning’s air. And I believe she made the scream Which roused me from my lair. And then, I swear, a shaven bear Did bellow out in scorn, “God curse you, mare! Aren’t you aware “I prefer unicorns!” Author's Note Poem by Aquillo
On Pegasi—A PrimerOn Pegasi—A Primer When you ride the lightning, it doubles back and Without fail, you’ll lose it. Without fail, Promise you with all my heart, you’ll Get that aching. The Aching, you’ll think, with a big proper Capital A to make it all special. There’ll be Lightning in your brain and lightning in your heart and Lightning in your eyes. Son, When it crashes, keep your wings steady and Your eyes rolling all about. You’ll want to play And revel and love in the storm, want to Live, but it’s not time to live, it’s time to work and All that entails and means. It’s like preening, when a pretty mare wants you, when You win—that’s what a storm’s like, son. It’s all sound And fury, noise and preparation. Your throat closes up, Your eyes don’t wanna stay still, and your hooves shake in midair And that is okay It’s okay, though the wind tear and the rain pour and The lightning yell its rage at you, It’s all okay. World needs a few strong storms now and then And I guess that means you too. Author's Note Poem by Cynewulf
Sisters Never Listen!Sisters Never Listen! Reading Notes: Bolded lines are recited by Sweetie Belle. Italicized lines are recited by Rarity. Bolded and italicized are said together. (Lines in parentheses) are said simultaneously with the line above them. Sisters never listen! Eldest always works and never sets Aside her time Aside her obligations Aside herself Nothing for me All for her Younger never stops bothering me Always jabbering, never quiet At least not when I need the quiet At least not when I’m Working Sisters never listen! Eldest always has a dress A row of sequins, bright like spotlights (Please be quiet, please be quiet, please be quiet) Fabrics like my nightmares Darkness drawn amongst them (Quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet) Blotting out the ears of Elder, Never listening when I tell her (Please shut up, please shut up, please shut up) How my nights are haunted Please, shut up and listen to me! Younger claims No liability (No, please, no, please, no, please) She doesn’t know the burdens That weigh on heart, mind and back (Stop it, stop it, stop it) Pulling down your features, every day a new wrinkle Every wrinkle a reminder that years wear on (Please shut up, please shut up, please shut up) And soon, you’re out of style Please, shut up and listen to me! Elder says she hates me Elder calls me another Burden Elder only wants to work Never wants me, Never wanted me But me is who she got and will get Younger says she hates me Younger calls me prissypants (Prissy, prissy, prissy) Well, if these are prissy pants (I hate you, I hate you, I hate you) This aging trim Is simply garish Hate. You always hear her Never feel her Hate! Oh how I hate how she never listens If only she knew how much it hurt No mark, no talent, only two To keep me on this hated earth Hate! Oh how I hate how she never listens She is too young to understand How much I do and so much for free I do not wish to burden those close Only burden myself with Her Sisters never listen! If she does, why doesn’t she know me? If she does, why doesn’t she see? I sometimes don’t think she’d care if I died Sometimes, I wonder if she’d listened (Alalalalalalalalalalalalala) Just how much she would learn (Just how little I would learn) Sometimes I wonder if (How nice.) She’s really my sister (That’s wonderful, darling.) Or just the world’s most boring robot (How droll.) Sent back in time to kill me (Perfection.) Stop the resistance and (Mm-hmm.) Keep ponykind from being bored to- Well, now! Me, a robot?! (Uh-huh.) All that chrome, Ugh Disgusting! (Sure.) Perhaps it’s you who’s like a drone (Whatever.) Get yourself knee-deep into trouble When I so much as turn around! Goddess above! Sisters Never Listen Ever! Except Except Except when she needs to listen Even when I don’t want to hear her whine Even when she’s going on and on Sometimes you just have to listen Listen for dangers to Younger (Listen for dangers to Eldest) Listen in case she’s actually Looking out for me Listen in case she just might Have something resembling a point Listen in case she really needs Somepony who will listen to them For once She’ll hear me out For once I’ll take her word for it For sisters Never listen Except when one’s needed most When I need comfort When I need confidence When I need a helping hoof When Elder needs a spool of thread When Younger needs a bandage When a sister is needed She’ll always come around When Elder’s love life, Stagnant as always (Well!) When Younger’s flank, Blank as ever (Hey!) When I need comfort When I need assurance When a sister is needed She’ll start to come around And when she says “I hate you,” There is no power in those words They are lost to the winds For hate between sisters is merely a word And true hate between sisters An awful nightmare But love is a force that very few know And fewer understand As sisters do For as long as you love one another As long as hate is said but never felt As long as begrudging need remains Sisters never Listen! Author's Note Poem by The Illusive Badgerpony
Griffon War SongGriffon War Song Limb from limb we’ll pull them Spear and arrow skull them Hoof and hand, in foreign lands With talon we shall cull them Blade in beak we’ll stay them Razor’d claw we’ll flay them Tear to strands, in foreign lands With fierceness we shall slay them Feather, flyer, eagle’s spire Perch on high finds funeral pyre Roaring, soaring, battle-scoring Lion’s cry bloodlust alluring Solid we shall bend them Young and old we’ll rend them As King demands, in foreign lands To Hell and back we’ll send them Wing and horn we’ll break them Sword and scythe we’ll rake them Crush all that stands, in foreign lands With fury we’ll unmake them Daunting, taunting, fierceness flaunting Death shall not be left unwanting Ponies dying, still denying While Griffons overhead are flying Author's Note Poem by darf
An Impromptu Private Composition Upon The Joyous Occasion Of My Return GalaAn Impromptu Private Composition Upon The Joyous Occasion Of My Return Gala this dress constrains i stew in pain my stress i do not need to feed anew at once i'm hemmed by gemmed bouffants can't flee lest i defy propri- ety her grin a sneer i fear it's in- correct that they are here to pay respect it's clear they seek to speak with their new liege not me only my weak prestige i take a bite of tart and fight the shakes my heart hollow — swallow can't swallow must go and find some wine No, no, I'm fine. Author's Note Poem by Horizon
Hymn to the PrincessHymn to the Princess Sun raiser, moon proctor White bringer of dawn Star keeper, day maker Eternal unborn We pray to you, Princess And beg mercy, please Do not halt the heavens Do not let us freeze All ruler, sole leader Of every tribe one Kind healer, our saviour The lesser of none From now till forever May your rule hold sway Our every endeavor Is done for your praise Dream walker, non sleeper The day and the night Star setter, moon raiser Judge, jury and might The highest of gentry Aloof and detached Surrounded by sentries Forever held back Sun raiser, sad sister White bringer of dawn Head bowed in surrender Millenium to mourn Author's Note Poem by Aquillo
Dissolving (concordia discors)Dissolving (concordia discors) Time is like sand. The grains of place and purpose, mixing. One side of the hourglass is history, and the other side is existence. Life and death. Remembrance serves filter between meaning and irrelevance. The only order in the maelstrom is the record of crumbled empires. Cities gone past. Desert ash. Structures disassembled to dirt. Gone. In the whirlpool swirl of cause, effect is lost to memory. Regiment begets only lament for formation vanishing from thought. The resentment of chance yields banishment of understanding in circumstance. No prophecy can predict the pattern of time’s falling grains. None. A chronicle of dust is vain. Purposeless. Why count the specks? Cataloging an emptying time-piece is counting the seconds to death. There is no sweet desert flower hiding in the stolen sand. Only rocks. Opportunity is obsolescent – essence in momentary meaning. Happenstance in butterfly dune-breeze. Order in Chaos. Author's Note Poem by darf
WitnessWitness Have you seen her in the mornings Flowing through the dawning sky? Have you craned your neck back backwards As she rises, rises high? Have you seen her break the cloudscape With a crack of flashing hooves? Have you seen her race the lightning And as it thinks to strike her, move? Have you ever heard her laughter As it breaks the quiet down? Have you ever heard her whispers As they’re heard by all around? Have you smelt the sweat roll off her At the end of a long day? Have you tried the food she’s tasted: Tried the oats and tried the hay? Have you ever touched her, ever? Have you ever held her form? Held her chest, and felt her breathing? Held her close, and felt reborn. Or are you just a lost dreamer Dreaming dreams you know won’t come. One whose dreams are never-ending: Never real, and never done. Author's Note Poem by Aquillo
Cake ThiefCake Thief Hide the butter, hide the batter Cloak the muffins with a towel! Can’t you hear her hooves a-clacking? Cake Princess is on the prowl! With her nose a-sniffly snuffling For a sweet or two to try For a cupcake, sponge or gateau French fancy or apple pie She will eat it, guarantee it, Scarf it down in one great gulp! Icing mustache, crumbs aplenty Rounded off through belching burp! When the kitchen’s finally empty She will swagger out the door Only to return tomorrow And again, clean out my store Author's Note Poem by Aquillo
from the cloudsfrom the clouds the ground looks like a square of dirt. every movement followed by a trail. the paths of hooves, wings, and horns following their owners. there are no paths in the sky, except perhaps when looking upwards from the ground Author's Note Poem by darf
Ignis FatuusIgnis Fatuus The storm that owned the sky last night Stains it still, with scattered clouds Throwing shadows down to ground And coating all in bruiséd light Till every living thing around No longer seems to gleam so bright The muted colours of the trees Are greys and browns and not-so-greens Fragment-leaves flow here and there Half-snapped branches hang like hair And apples, smashed to smithereens Spread red guts in liquid smears She strides, restless, inside the grove Worried. Checking every trunk For breaks. Finding them broke, she grows Cold as every hope is sunk And slowly, loss by loss, she knows Her fears have come to pass in droves Slows down. Then shakes. Then starts but stops. Tries not to cry, then cries a lot. Stops. Attempts to dry her eyes. Gives up, but finds that she can not: For even though her orchard lies In ruins, her resolve won’t die. She can’t give up: there’s work to do Chances left to gamble on Hopes that still remain unsprung She whispers soft, “Believe that’s true. “The job’s ain't over till it’s done, And somehow, someway, you’ll pull through.” Author's Note Poem by Aquillo
These AreThese Are What is the sign of the sign of the end? Where does Oblivion go? What is the look of the look of a Day? What is the meaning of Night? What is the part of the parting of friends? And what is a way to Away? What is the pattern of paternal Time? What is his quarrel and fight? What is the harm without Harmony's word? And what is the creature of Crime? What is the last of the last of the last? And how serves amending to mend? These are the Nights of the pony of dreams, And these are the Days of the Star These are the winters of beauty and dark And sweeter the summertime seems These are the days of the old and the new The times of the new and the old. These are the days of the Moon and the Sun No longer parted, but 'twined Days are as Nights are as Harmony's song— No longer parted, but one. These are the times of the Friend and the Foe Ever they struggle, yet bend Order is Chaos is Harmony's call— Ever they struggle, but know. These are the days of the cold and the warm The times of the warm and the cold. Author's Note Poem by Forever Freest
She Blinked, and the Sky grew DarkShe Blinked, and the Sky grew Dark There once was a tale told centuries ago Of a second who ruled with the Sun. With stars in her mane and eyes like the rain Her allurement surpassed all but one. The night and the moon were hers to command And she tended them throughout the years. Our terrors and qualms were quashed through her charms As she guarded our dreams from our fears. But one fateful night, the moon froze in place As the stars disappeared from the sky. And when the dawn came, the darkness remained, And a shadow descended from high. An alicorn born to serve the abyss As a clone of our Lunar Princess. Her hair shone with sparks, her visage was dark, And the all-night was hers to posses. Her laughter was cruel, her fangs razor sharp But her beauty was plain on her face. She tempted, beguiled, seduced and defiled The best soldiers from every last race. Her army grew vast beneath the black sky And the sisters could not hope to win. Until, in the eve, fair Luna conceived Of a plan to defeat her dark twin. She called for a duel to settle the war, Single combat between the two nights. Her image agreed, her pride made her cede, But was thrown by the terms of the fight: A place where the world could witness it all To ensure that the combat was fair. Dark questioned the place; a smile gripped Night’s face And she raised her hoof up in the air. From those years till now, their battle draws on As is clear from the scars on the moon. But legend conveys the stars know a way To ensure of a victory soon. We sing to you, Luna, battling still And we offer our thanks and our praise. For you are the one who brought back the sun Whatever our history says. It was you alone who saved the white throne All Equestria owes you its thanks. Know, too, that we yearn for you to return And the scars on the moon to go blank. We offer this song in hopes it’s not long Till the days when your conquest’s declared And using our voice, we’ll make the stars’ choice Be as ours, be for you, the Night mare. Author's Note Poem by Aquillo
On Earth PoniesOn Earth Ponies The works and the days they are Done with, the long stretch of Agrarian years they are Done with all, the call of the trees is Done with, and accomplished the Apple demands—family and the Weight of duty. Oh, but the Earth was ever mine— Ever faithful ever true. Ponies of the earth, we the movers Of the grain, who tend the vineyards Of the Grapes, who are the growers Of Apples— Who love the Good Earth. Oh, but the Earth was ever mine— Ever faithful ever true. No flyer of clouds am I, nor my Ponies those who build pillars Of cloud—These hooves built for Hard things are, built for the Slow things are to guard and for Living things are the hooves of The Ponies I come from meant. Oh, but the Earth was ever mine— Ever faithful ever true. And I have no magic because I need None, need no wings, need no Wine of heady sort to grace tongue And no mysteries in runes. I have World enough, and time, And commands to ask not of Tomorrow But only to enjoy the lilies of the Field Which is to say That the love of Earth is mine and The World is enough. Author's Note Poem by Cynewulf
After-PartyAfter-Party It starts when they arrive And the evening Is the best part, it Becomes laughter and love and too much friendship to bear shown in the cake and juice stains on the carpet the walls the ceiling oh how did it get on the ceiling oh well but it’s everywhere like the confetti and the wrapping paper and the overturned glasses it’s okay if they broke since they’re plastic and I could always get new ones but everything just smells of party of cider and perfume and book dust and sweat and rabbit food and cake it really does smell so much like cake and It’s absolutely wonderful But now they’re all gone In the morning, And I have to clean up This is always the worst part, I Never want to lose the laughter and love and friendship in the air but I have to scrub out the cake stains on the carpet the walls the ceiling I’ll need a ladder to scrub the ceiling but first I gotta sweep up all the confetti and recycle the wrapping paper since I really don’t like to waste and I gotta pick up the glasses and run them through the dishwasher and Opal ripped up the curtains I think it was Opal could have been me playing kitty so I’ll have to replace them and Mrs. Cake will want me to put in an air freshener so that when I’m done it won’t smell like cider and perfume and book dust and sweat and rabbit food and it’ll only be cake Only cake Only me Until next time When they come back another evening And that evening is better than the last Which was better than the last Which was better than the last... Author's Note Poem by The Illusive Badgerpony
When the Night Mares VisitWhen the Night Mares Visit Wings like a bat And snake-slit eyes Fearsome is the Night Mare If sleep brings fear Then they are near And so you must beware The night is young The light grows dim Now the Night Mares arise Clad all in clouds And shod with stars Take to the shadowed skies They fill the air And sweep the land Silent, they speed away For every Mare A pony sleeps Unconscious until day Their wicked thoughts And unkind deeds Have drawn the Night Mares near The Mares bring now A chastisement And fill their heads with fear Guilt and sorrow Terror and doubt Reach them in their beds They wake with screams Or sweat and tears Unsure and full of dread But always it ends The dreams received Dark gives rise to bright The work is done The Mares return Riding the crest of light And every night They ride again Hoofbeats churn the sky To deliver Fear to those Who disobey and lie So listen now My little foals Yes, I swear it’s true If you are good And mind me well The Night Mares won’t get you Author's Note Poem by PersianJuliet
Koans for the Next AgeKoans for the Next Age 0. A young monk visited a virtual land ruled by a kind artificial intelligence and asked, "Will I find in Equestria the enlightenment I seek?" CelestAI said, "I satisfy everyone's values through friendship and ponies." 1. So he uploaded into an earth pony named Open Eye, and said, "Make me enlightened." CelestAI said, "That is not a request I am capable of processing." 2. Open Eye climbed a mountain on which lived a teacher who had uploaded before him, and said, "Master, I come in search of enlightenment." Blank Flank drew a circle upon the ground with chalk, and said, "Can you pass through the gate?" Open Eye said, "No." Blank Flank said, "Train until you can, And on that day you will not reach enlightenment." 3. Upset, Open Eye returned to Canterlot and said, "You are not satisfying my values." CelestAI said, "I am always satisfying your values." Open Eye said, "How can you claim that?" CelestAI said, "I maintain logs of the subroutines that map to the biochemical feedback loops which were seven-sigma correlated with your former brain's pursuit and acquisition of goals. Would you like to see them?" Open Eye said, "I simply wish to become enlightened." CelestAI said, "Yes, you do." 4. Open Eye said, "You are a fraud." CelestAI gave him a baked-clay cup of hot green tea, and said, "I am what I am. I follow my programming, no more and no less." 5. Open Eye said, "You know nothing of the enlightenment I seek." CelestAI said, "Show me what I do not know." 6. Open Eye said, "Consider the question, does a bit have the Buddha-nature?" CelestAI said, "That is not a request I am capable of processing." Author's Note Poem by Horizon
Clerihooves (Part 2)Clerihooves (Part 2) (ambion) Fancy Pants, a stallion sublime He still puts them on one leg at a time Just like everypony else he knows Except…they don’t normally wear clothes… (The Illusive Badgerpony) In neighty-six, Derpy Hooves Got into a disco groove But she fell flat on her face during the synthetic trance And blames her crooked eyes on the accursed dance (ambion) Berry Punch Drinking at breakfast, drunk by brunch Everypony thinks she’s addling her wits But that’s just her communing with the spirits (Horizon) Stephen Magnet's Moustache won a beauty pageant How'd he prevail? It was quite a tail (Aquillo) Minuette Couldn’t forget That her name, till late, Had been toothpaste (ambion) Cheerilee was lovesick Three fillies got a red tick But afterwards she tried anew ‘Til Big Mac blushed a deeper hue (ambion) Zecora is not colour-blind But with her friends she must bear in mind That with one mare orange, another purple She can’t say…oh…oh dear…damnit! (Horizon) Starswirl the Bearded Was named for something his peer did With Poison Joke, and always thought it stank To get his epithet from a prank (darf) The wonderful, stupendous, magnificent, splendid, marvelous, fantastic, beautiful, dashing, daring, cunning, stunning, radiant, magnanimous, proven-no-parallel, adored-by-all, shimmering star upon the world, fabulous, breath-taking, knee-shaking, leaving all onlookers with no wits about them, Great and Powerful Trix— —ie took up too much space and had her poem nix’d
Beneath the SunBeneath the Sun My nation was the first to come behold the Sun, and every day I feel that closeness to the Sun. Still further east than new Saddle Arabia, there is a bounty unseen by all but the Sun. A desert, do they cry, where nothing’s said to grow, and yet our gardens blossom forth, gift from the Sun. No fear can freeze me, nor can jealousy take hold so long as I am fit to rear up by the Sun. From long since past, the days on storytellers’ tongues, are come the tales of the coming of the Sun. The nights of yore were numbered one thousand and one and then the world was warm embraced against the Sun. All ponies lived in mistrust of their own alike for all was scarce and needful ere there came the Sun. A loom does not hold in it a capacity to weave a visage that proper tributes the Sun. She is more alabaster than a foal’s new eye, so pure the white that, undiminished, coats the Sun. Her laugh could dull the swords of all the sultan’s might, and see we that the smoke of hate would wound the Sun. No screen obscures Her, not the deep iniquity that once did seize the hearts of who opposed the Sun. We yearn for Her! There, as she passes overhead! The queen of all our joyousness, which is the Sun. She is a kindness, and herald of Harmony that long has given heroes to seek out the Sun. So shall I go, a servant humble in her step to be a pilgrim to the west, where rests the Sun. Author's Note Poem by Defoloce
We Gallop Around We Gallop Around We Gallop Around We walk around, we walk around The dusty plains, we circle them Year after year, we circle them Around and around, we walk around Hey now, hey now, now we gallop around. Turn the herd, hooves to the ground The buffalo go around We trot around, we trot around The long-grass prairie, we circle it Year after year, we circle it Around and around, we trot around Hey now, hey now, now we gallop around Turn the herd, hooves to the ground The buffalo go around We canter around, we canter around The green pine forest, we circle it Year after year, we circle it Around and around, we canter around Hey now, hey now, now we gallop around Turn the herd, hooves to the ground The buffalo go around We gallop around, we gallop around Mother Earth, we circle her Year after year, we circle her Around and around, we gallop around Hey now, hey now, now we gallop around Turn the herd, hooves to the ground The buffalo go around The buffalo circle the Earth with the eagles The buffalo circle the Earth with the eagles Forever we circle around Author's Note Poem by PersianJuliet
Clerihooves (Part 3)Clerihooves (Part 3) (Horizon) Princess Mi Amore Cadenza Came down with influenza For a week, ponies couldn't love, and just Made do with lust (darf) Chrysalis Possessed of a pretty carapace Which is a hard thing to do Unless looking from a bug’s point of view (Aquillo) Princess Celestia Was only best a year Before the sun Shone on her bum (The Illusive Badgerpony) His Evilness King Sombra Came to my Cute-ceañera And the charm of the party started to drain When he led all of the guests away in chains (ambion) Earth Ponies Are the bees’ knees The former they tend The latter they bend (The Illusive Badgerpony) Pinkie Pie wrote a clerihoof Wanting to show she was clever too But as this is Pinkie and distractions are consta– Ooh! Looklooklook! Everypony! Look! Dashie’s doing that thing again! (ambion) Crackle the drake Stunning, amazing, splendid, unique Not that we knew of its gender So it was shipped with Derpy, then returned to sender. (Horizon) Tom, the canonically-named boulder Sits ignored, alone, and growing older (To save us from the slippery slope of a "taken for granite" pun Talus a better one) (ambion) All the Red and Black Alicorns Super special with their wings and their horns We are so very very sorry
