If

by modulusshift

Rating: everyone
Tags:
Length: 309

Mudyard Hoofling has a few verses of poetry on life in Equestria.

Mudyard Hoofling, the premier poet of ponies, with a patronage from Princess Luna herself, has had a poem published that most pony critics consider his masterpiece. It is the distilled essence of the Equestrian spirit itself. Truly, one of the greatest Equestrian poets of all time has published some of his best hoofwork right here.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-04-12 22:59:48 UTC

Chapter 1

If you can keep your bit when all about you

Are spitting theirs and galloping off on cue;

If you can trust yourself when all ponies doubt you,

Yet keep a stable for their doubting too;

If you can stand, and not be tired by standing,

Or, being lied about, not deal in lies,

Or being spited, don't give way to spiting,

And yet don't shine too bright, nor act too wise;

If you can cast -- and not make spells your caster;

If you can make -- and not make the cause of pain;

If you can fly -- and not fall to fears yet faster;

And give real love to everypony the same,

If you can banter with Success and Defeat

And reconcile those old enemies into good friends,

If you let nopony's quest remain incomplete

But help with all tasks 'til they reach their ends,

If you can make a pile of all your life's winnings

And give to friends freely all that you've got,

Yet never feel that as loss, but earnings,

And never give the other choice a second thought.

If you can force your memories and legacies to continue

To act as you would long after you are gone

And so leave life incomplete when death finally wins you

For others, once aimless, to learn from and live on.

If you can talk to herds, and keep your virtue,

Or trot with Princesses -- nor lose the common touch,

If neither enemies nor hated foes can gain you,

If all ponies count on you, and you learn when it's too much,

If you can fill the unforgiving minute,

By taking old pals on a run across the river's bend,

Yours is Equestria, and all that is in it,

And -- what is more -- you'll be a Pony, my friend!