Anthologica Universe Atlas / Universes / Alt History: North America / Germanic Languages / Marshlandic / Marshlandic Poetry
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Poetry plays an important role in Marshlandic culture. Poems are considered to be a form of divination, and the better written it is, the more powerful it will be. It is said that perfection in language is predetermined by God, and as such, beautiful poetry allows men to tap into the kälima, or divine cosmos. By tapping into the kälima, the poet unlocks divine action in the world. Thus the Marshlanders do not consider poetry a form of command over divine forces, but rather a type of synergy.
A written poem is called a dysh, and it is believed that a written poem opens up a portal to firdo. As such, written poems traditionally were primarily written on graves, in the hopes that it would provide a portal for the soul of the deceased.
There are innumerable styles of Marshlandic poetry. However, some styles are much more common. These common styles are called lykit. Each lykit is a model of meter, rhyme, and poetic device, which are considered helpful in approaching perfection in composing poetry. Some lykit make us of kunjinj, a poetic metaphor established by tradition.
Among the most popular lykit are:
Fui ya li sjum vash fyit, fjutsh vo vita tat, äkbäsh
deshj, draish Trut dui i tvi hai
(Related to Karlevi poem:
Folginn liggr hinns fylgðu
flestr vissi þat mestar
daeðir dolga Þruðar
draugr í þeimsi haugi;
munat reið-Viðurr ráða
rógstarkr í Danmarku
Endils jarmungrundar
ørgrandari landi.)
Some common kunjinj are:
Poetry plays an important role in Marshlandic culture. Poems are considered to be a form of divination, and the better written it is, the more powerful it will be. It is said that perfection in language is predetermined by God, and as such, beautiful poetry allows men to tap into the kälima, or divine cosmos. By tapping into the kälima, the poet unlocks divine action in the world. Thus the Marshlanders do not consider poetry a form of command over divine forces, but rather a type of synergy.
A written poem is called a dysh, and it is believed that a written poem opens up a portal to firdo. As such, written poems traditionally were primarily written on graves, in the hopes that it would provide a portal for the soul of the deceased.
There are innumerable styles of Marshlandic poetry. However, some styles are much more common. These common styles are called lykit. Each lykit is a model of meter, rhyme, and poetic device, which are considered helpful in approaching perfection in composing poetry. Some lykit make us of kunjinj, a poetic metaphor established by tradition.
Among the most popular lykit are:
- Dråtkhet -
- Each line is composed of two 6-syllable half-lines, with four lines organized into a stanza.
- In lines 1 and 3 of a stanza, at least two stressed syllables must alliterate, preferably at the beginning of words. Two syllables must also close with the same consonant, but do not necessarily require the same vowel.
- In lines 2 and 4, the first stressed syllable alliterates with the previous line's alliteration scheme. Two of the stressed syllables must rhyme, preferably in the first and last words of the second half-line.
- In poems with end-rhymes, the rhyme scheme is ABAB.
- Stress doesn't have to alternate syllables, but half the syllables in each half-line should be stressed and the other half unstressed.
Fui ya li sjum vash fyit, fjutsh vo vita tat, äkbäsh
deshj, draish Trut dui i tvi hai
(Related to Karlevi poem:
Folginn liggr hinns fylgðu
flestr vissi þat mestar
daeðir dolga Þruðar
draugr í þeimsi haugi;
munat reið-Viðurr ráða
rógstarkr í Danmarku
Endils jarmungrundar
ørgrandari landi.)
Some common kunjinj are: