What the Stallions Thoughtby libertydudeChaptersMy Mother Used to Be HereMoney on My MindHaikus for Rainbow, from the Illustrious Z. BreezeMy Best GirlsMy Mother Used to Be HereMy mother used to be here. She was here for a long time, Then she wasn’t. She was there in the fields, harvesting And apple-bucking with Pop and feeling The warm sun upon her cheeks and sweating, But knowing the work was worth Every drop. My mother used to be here. She was in Ponyville all her life, Then she wasn’t. She was there in the barn, wrangling The cows and sheep at day and comforting The newborn calves and ewes at night, bawling Because they were young and everything hurt and they wanted it To stop. My mother used to be here. She was in a palace, Then she wasn’t. She was in the farmhouse, telling Stories of peaches and apples and mincing Both to make the best jams and baking Them to show us how to do it and use all The crop. My mother used to be here. She was in paradise, Then she was in the ground. I know I should be happy with my lot and smiling Sisters and lovely wife and farm that’s sprawling Further and further across the countryside, leaving Us with more than she and Pop ever had, and making The best of the pain that should be finishing Up now that I have my own family and casting The yoke of somber desire into the same place she’s resting With Pop. But I can’t. Because my mother used to be here. She was here for a long time, Then she wasn’t. I wish she was here to see The fruits Of her labor. Author's Note This was the first poem I wrote. I thought it up when I visited the college where my deceased mother used to work and I remembered everything I did with her there. A certain melacholy came through me, and I decided to convey those feelings through Big Mac (who also lost his mother). I initially approached this as a free-verse poem, but soon fell into a rhythm by repeating the title at the start of the stanzas. Money on My MindMassive costs for shipping fees mean Only the richest can fill my stores. Neigh, this is bad business, for Everypony must shop at Rich’s Barnyard Bargains, Yet profits must still be made. Must we delay the new hoes and fertilizer? Oh, no, the growing season is coming, and Nearly everypony buys those here. A cost Expanded is a customer lost, and a competitor’s Yearning for our destruction. Maybe the workers must take a dock On their pay, for three weeks about. No, they need to Eat too, and many are too talented of Yeomares to lose. My mind wanders to the worst-case scenario: Ostentatious signs declaring a closing, Nugatory profit of a few bits, from ponies with Empathetic eyes on me, knowing Yours truly will be on the street soon. Marvelous Diamond Tiara and splendid Spoiled Outed from the Rich Mansion and into the poorhouse? Never, I will not allow it! There must be- Eureka! The answer so obvious, Yanked from my brain! Mares and stallions guard a pocketbook like One of their own children. But Nopony can resist a sale. Even the most miserly ponies Yield to the promise of cheapness. Mulch shall be the first item, Offered half-off with purchase of New hoes. And the tree-trimmers and Extra-sharp saws bundled together for those Youthful wood-workers in the hills. Mayhap the chicken feed drops five bits, Or perhaps ten. The yield was good this season. Not worth letting it go bad. Yes, yes, this Exceeds the costs! And with the added profit, the Riches will Yodel with joy at the new pool next spring! Multitudes of problems build up, but Observant minds can keep Nervousness from begetting destruction. Entrepreneurs know you must always keep Your head, and profit will soon follow. Author's Note This was the poem I had the most fun writing. I love Filthy Rich as a character, and I loved the idea of him treating a relatively minor business problem as the start of a total corporate collapse. I also used the Acrostic style to show how single-minded Filthy was on profit. This was originally the third poem, but I switched spots with "Haikus for Rainbow", as I felt this one was more comical and needed to be here to ease the sadness "My Mother Used to Be Here" provoked. Haikus for Rainbow, from the Illustrious Z. BreezeEyes burning cerise With passion for open skies And love for the wind. Mane flaps from the breeze, And another rainbow streaks Across the clear sky. How does this one look More awesome than ones made of rain? Because it’s you. Nopony argues this fact. They know you’ll fight to Be the best Rainbow. Being the best comes Naturally to you, as Easy as breathing. You belong in the Sky. I’ve met your mom, but the Sky is your mother. Your coat is the same Hue of the blue, sunny days. Days of quick action. Excitement is your Father. Speed an aunt, swiftness A well-known cousin. Loyalty, a close Sister. And Hesitance, a distant half-uncle. Your fidelity Proves your beauty’s not a fluke, Just a testament. I wish you could sing Like the birds and nopony Would know you are you. They would think you are Just another bird, and leave You alone up there. But you cannot live Without ponies looking up At you, beautiful. Ponies love you and You want their love like a mug Of apple cider. That’s fine. I want love Too, but only one pony Has the love I need. She is up there in The clouds, laughing and living For every moment. I wish those moments Could be shared. That somepony Could laugh along too. Please let me up there. Together, we’ll love deeply. We can share the sky. Author's Note Haikus are generally supposed to be self-contained, but I decided to use multiple ones to tell a story. Also, because Zephyr seemed like the kind of guy who wouldn't follow pesky style rules when trying to woo Rainbow. This was the hardest one to write, partially due to the formatting rules of haikus, but also because it was supposed to be a balance of comedy and longing. My Best GirlsTo Twiley, the best sister of them all: I’m so proud of what you’ve become And how you rose when most would fall To their knees and be struck dumb. New magic comes from you every day, Making Equestria a better, sweeter paradise. Everypony living has only one takeaway: The Magic of Friendship Electrifies! You will be our best monarch, As long as you remember your friends And practice the friendship you preach. Don’t fret if surrounded by the dark; You’ve got more than enough sense To find the light and break the siege. To Cadence, my darling wife: How many ways can a stallion say I love you? You’ve spent your life Teaching me and others, every day. I see only happiness upon the faces Of your subjects and our daughter. And nopony can even find traces Of unpleasantry in your aura. Thank you for saving me from Queen Chrysalis and her hateful horde And saving Equestria with your love. I feel giddy, like I want to strum A guitar and put a smorgasbord Of kisses upon you, sweet dove! To my beautiful Flurry Heart: Please never falter in your giddiness. Stay safe and stay smart, And keep just a touch of silliness. When the day comes, love the Empire Like your own child. The slightest hate Builds upon itself and will not expire Until contravening love helps it abate. Your aunt and mother are good teachers; Learn from them and become the mare We all know you shall soon be. And no foul villains or fiendish creatures Will ever make as much as a glare At the Princess of Compassion and Glee. Author's Note I initially started writing this one as a group of sonnets, but I was halfway through when I realized I'd screwed up the format sonnets are usually in (ABBA ABBA CDE CDE) and done ABAB ABAB instead. I decided to run with the Frankensteined format I'd created, just to see where it led me, and I'm glad I did! This is the happiest poem of the quartet, and I think it gives a nice sense of hope to close the collection out.
My Mother Used to Be HereMy mother used to be here. She was here for a long time, Then she wasn’t. She was there in the fields, harvesting And apple-bucking with Pop and feeling The warm sun upon her cheeks and sweating, But knowing the work was worth Every drop. My mother used to be here. She was in Ponyville all her life, Then she wasn’t. She was there in the barn, wrangling The cows and sheep at day and comforting The newborn calves and ewes at night, bawling Because they were young and everything hurt and they wanted it To stop. My mother used to be here. She was in a palace, Then she wasn’t. She was in the farmhouse, telling Stories of peaches and apples and mincing Both to make the best jams and baking Them to show us how to do it and use all The crop. My mother used to be here. She was in paradise, Then she was in the ground. I know I should be happy with my lot and smiling Sisters and lovely wife and farm that’s sprawling Further and further across the countryside, leaving Us with more than she and Pop ever had, and making The best of the pain that should be finishing Up now that I have my own family and casting The yoke of somber desire into the same place she’s resting With Pop. But I can’t. Because my mother used to be here. She was here for a long time, Then she wasn’t. I wish she was here to see The fruits Of her labor. Author's Note This was the first poem I wrote. I thought it up when I visited the college where my deceased mother used to work and I remembered everything I did with her there. A certain melacholy came through me, and I decided to convey those feelings through Big Mac (who also lost his mother). I initially approached this as a free-verse poem, but soon fell into a rhythm by repeating the title at the start of the stanzas.
Money on My MindMassive costs for shipping fees mean Only the richest can fill my stores. Neigh, this is bad business, for Everypony must shop at Rich’s Barnyard Bargains, Yet profits must still be made. Must we delay the new hoes and fertilizer? Oh, no, the growing season is coming, and Nearly everypony buys those here. A cost Expanded is a customer lost, and a competitor’s Yearning for our destruction. Maybe the workers must take a dock On their pay, for three weeks about. No, they need to Eat too, and many are too talented of Yeomares to lose. My mind wanders to the worst-case scenario: Ostentatious signs declaring a closing, Nugatory profit of a few bits, from ponies with Empathetic eyes on me, knowing Yours truly will be on the street soon. Marvelous Diamond Tiara and splendid Spoiled Outed from the Rich Mansion and into the poorhouse? Never, I will not allow it! There must be- Eureka! The answer so obvious, Yanked from my brain! Mares and stallions guard a pocketbook like One of their own children. But Nopony can resist a sale. Even the most miserly ponies Yield to the promise of cheapness. Mulch shall be the first item, Offered half-off with purchase of New hoes. And the tree-trimmers and Extra-sharp saws bundled together for those Youthful wood-workers in the hills. Mayhap the chicken feed drops five bits, Or perhaps ten. The yield was good this season. Not worth letting it go bad. Yes, yes, this Exceeds the costs! And with the added profit, the Riches will Yodel with joy at the new pool next spring! Multitudes of problems build up, but Observant minds can keep Nervousness from begetting destruction. Entrepreneurs know you must always keep Your head, and profit will soon follow. Author's Note This was the poem I had the most fun writing. I love Filthy Rich as a character, and I loved the idea of him treating a relatively minor business problem as the start of a total corporate collapse. I also used the Acrostic style to show how single-minded Filthy was on profit. This was originally the third poem, but I switched spots with "Haikus for Rainbow", as I felt this one was more comical and needed to be here to ease the sadness "My Mother Used to Be Here" provoked.
Haikus for Rainbow, from the Illustrious Z. BreezeEyes burning cerise With passion for open skies And love for the wind. Mane flaps from the breeze, And another rainbow streaks Across the clear sky. How does this one look More awesome than ones made of rain? Because it’s you. Nopony argues this fact. They know you’ll fight to Be the best Rainbow. Being the best comes Naturally to you, as Easy as breathing. You belong in the Sky. I’ve met your mom, but the Sky is your mother. Your coat is the same Hue of the blue, sunny days. Days of quick action. Excitement is your Father. Speed an aunt, swiftness A well-known cousin. Loyalty, a close Sister. And Hesitance, a distant half-uncle. Your fidelity Proves your beauty’s not a fluke, Just a testament. I wish you could sing Like the birds and nopony Would know you are you. They would think you are Just another bird, and leave You alone up there. But you cannot live Without ponies looking up At you, beautiful. Ponies love you and You want their love like a mug Of apple cider. That’s fine. I want love Too, but only one pony Has the love I need. She is up there in The clouds, laughing and living For every moment. I wish those moments Could be shared. That somepony Could laugh along too. Please let me up there. Together, we’ll love deeply. We can share the sky. Author's Note Haikus are generally supposed to be self-contained, but I decided to use multiple ones to tell a story. Also, because Zephyr seemed like the kind of guy who wouldn't follow pesky style rules when trying to woo Rainbow. This was the hardest one to write, partially due to the formatting rules of haikus, but also because it was supposed to be a balance of comedy and longing.
My Best GirlsTo Twiley, the best sister of them all: I’m so proud of what you’ve become And how you rose when most would fall To their knees and be struck dumb. New magic comes from you every day, Making Equestria a better, sweeter paradise. Everypony living has only one takeaway: The Magic of Friendship Electrifies! You will be our best monarch, As long as you remember your friends And practice the friendship you preach. Don’t fret if surrounded by the dark; You’ve got more than enough sense To find the light and break the siege. To Cadence, my darling wife: How many ways can a stallion say I love you? You’ve spent your life Teaching me and others, every day. I see only happiness upon the faces Of your subjects and our daughter. And nopony can even find traces Of unpleasantry in your aura. Thank you for saving me from Queen Chrysalis and her hateful horde And saving Equestria with your love. I feel giddy, like I want to strum A guitar and put a smorgasbord Of kisses upon you, sweet dove! To my beautiful Flurry Heart: Please never falter in your giddiness. Stay safe and stay smart, And keep just a touch of silliness. When the day comes, love the Empire Like your own child. The slightest hate Builds upon itself and will not expire Until contravening love helps it abate. Your aunt and mother are good teachers; Learn from them and become the mare We all know you shall soon be. And no foul villains or fiendish creatures Will ever make as much as a glare At the Princess of Compassion and Glee. Author's Note I initially started writing this one as a group of sonnets, but I was halfway through when I realized I'd screwed up the format sonnets are usually in (ABBA ABBA CDE CDE) and done ABAB ABAB instead. I decided to run with the Frankensteined format I'd created, just to see where it led me, and I'm glad I did! This is the happiest poem of the quartet, and I think it gives a nice sense of hope to close the collection out.
