From the personal diary of Princess Twilight Sparkle:
Pinkie seemed unusually sad after Maud left the other day. I mean, it made sense, since she wasn't going to see her sister for a while, but somehow it felt...darker than that. Like there was more to her feelings than just missing her sibling.
I asked her what was wrong, and she just said she'd been thinking about some sad stuff that seeing Maud had reminded her of. She didn't expand at all, but I told her that when I feel sad, I sometimes like to write poetry about what's making me feel that way. She said that sounded like fun, and that she was going to give it a try.
Today, she asked me to read her poem and see what I thought. I told her I would.
I wish I hadn't.
Chapters (3)
Wow. That was surprisingly powerful. Who knew, a poem about "rocks"?
Well, we knew Pinkie was a bit... odd. Now we know she's even creepier than everyone thought.
Your writing never ceases to amaze me by the way.
Sorry if I sound stupid, but what could it be about besides rocks?
4605678
Nothing to feel stupid about. It's a poem. You may or may not read more into it than just the text. If you don't, then that's fine. Enjoy the poem for what it is. If you think there's more to be gleaned from it, then enjoy the subtle subtext as well.
For the general record, though, just so people don't think I'm trolling here, there are at least two layers of subtext here. There are subtle clues that can help you detect the deeper meanings, but if you don't catch them, don't worry about it. It's not intended to be obvious or easily caught.
(That said, if you think you have some idea of what I was going for, I'd be curious to hear about it in PM. I'd rather you didn't post in the comments, lest you ruin the search for someone else.)
I haven't read this yet, but I'm imagining the rest of the mane six reading pinkie's poem band being like:
fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/268/9/1/soul_eater_emo_corner_motivational_by_invaderzib13-d5fweia.jpg
Huh.
I don't usually read much poetry other than the 'classics' - Byron, Shelley, Yeats, Eliot etc., and while I've read some pony poetry before, I don't usually get much out of it, even if it's by authors I usually like.
Which is why I am so surprised that I genuinely loved the poem. It's really, really, good, and more importantly it was fun to read (well, perhaps fun isn't the right word with a subject like that - enjoyable at least). I think I got at least one level of the subtext if not more, but I won't get into the analysis of it here. Suffice to say, I enjoyed it very much.
4630539
High praise. I appreciate you taking the time to comment on your enjoyment. It was a quick sort of off-the-cuff project, but I really am proud of it, and I'm glad you liked it. I would be curious to read your analysis, so if you find yourself with the time, please feel free to PM me what you thought.
4631313
You're very welcome - and I might just take you up on the analysis offer.
......I am really really scared to read this....I don't want to read this.....
*ten minutes later*
Wow...okay. *wipes tears out of my eyes* Shut up, I get sensitive when reading!
Anyway, that was really good. Honestly, it was not near as dark as I thought it'd be. The poem itself was nicely done and I really loved how you left everything up to symbolism. What happened? What's the poem about? This was not answered but our imaginations are left to wonder. I have several working theories myself, none of them pleasant o.O. I feel Twilight's reaction made since and her not allowing Pinkie to read the poem might be for the best.
Amazing short fic, one I think I'll even fav!
Wow. Just wow. I don't think I've been this disturbed since my last Dark fic reading. And that was weeks ago. I think I caught on what was going on in that poem (which was expertly written by the way) but only to a normal or possible single layer of subtle. At least, I hope what I came out with is right. It's probably much more Dark than what I'm getting, as you say you hid subtle themes in there which aren't easy to find, but then again, I don't exactly analyse poems in my spare time. Kind of glad I don't now too...
This deserves a fav. And when I think of this writing, more views too. But that won't happen anytime soon, which is a bit of a shame. Great job!
4729021
Thank you
Knowing my work has had an impact on someone is the sole reason I keep doing what I do here.
This is by far the darkest thing I'll probably ever publish here (at least for the far-foreseeable future), and even though I'm not usually a big fan of darkfics, I am genuinely pleased with the result of this particular experiment.
As I have said in other places, there are two intentional layers of subtext here, and some people have brought additional unintentional symbolism and potential to light in their PMs to be. I can't even begin to describe how happy I am to see people really digging into this story; I put a lot of effort and thought into it, and I'm getting roughly as much back out of it. As a writer, I can't think of anything I love more than that.
Also, as I mentioned to other people, if you are interested in further discussion, feel free to PM me (or don't, if you prefer to simply enjoy the poem as it is...or if you just don't want to talk to weirdos on the internet--who could blame you?). I love hearing what other people get out of my work.
Thanks again for your comment
There's the obvious symbolism of the Pies grinding themselves away in the meat grinder of a rock field, but I hadn't noticed the child abuse undertones at all (outside of the whole bit about child labor).
Except...
I don't believe "less" is the right word, Pinkie. Try "more".
Oh, wow
Wow, this was punch in the gut.
The poem was really well made, and the fact everything is left purely to symbolism and our own imagination gives this a layer of depth that makes even better, culminating into a great open ending:
That's the million bit question, I managed to see three possibilities to the poem, each harder than the last.
Very good work.
Well buck buckard.