Technically it was a Tonka (I think?), following the 5-7-5-7-7 sylable pattern, but it got me thinking. Are there any canon examples of Draconic poetry? If not, how does the community think dragons would have written poetry, if at all?

This post has been deleted.

DovahKiinZaan

You have a girlfriend?!? Mine dumped me!

Krosis.

The Skyrim theme is an example of poetry in the dragon language. It was written by humans, though, so it doesn't tell us much about how dragons might write poetry if they did.

I imagine if dragons did write poetry, it would probably feature short verses and fragments rather than complete sentences, almost like Dragon Shouts put into verse. The words themselves wouldn't have to make much grammatical sense, but together they'd paint an overarching picture or theme of whatever the dragon is trying to express.

Beowulf was a source of inspiration for the dragon language, so I'd be inclined to say that a dragon would write in a form of alliterative verse rather than, say, rhyming. Of course the Song of the Dragonborn rhymes, but there's no way of telling if rhymes stem from how the ancient Nords wrote poetry versus how the dragons might have written poetry, if they ever did.

Perhaps we could experiment with it and create our own? Hell, we're expanding a language here, might as well toss culture into the vat and see what comes up.

That sounds awesome! Let's do that!

Wuthrahzun

That sounds awesome! Let's do that!

Where should we start?

I don't actually know much about poetry, but I like what Paarthurnax said about peotry being shout-like. I think something akin to a shout-like haiku might be a good place to start. 

You don't need to be a dragon to write in Dovahzul, do you?

LeHott

You don't need to be a dragon to write in Dovahzul, do you?

No, however it would seem more authentic if it were written by a dragon.

Yes, it would, wouldn't it? I wonder if there is some poetry in Skyrim that is spoken by a dragon? We could always use the Word Walls as a basis, though, as they are usually seen lingering around the Rotmulaag they have.

Kahdremonik

Yes, it would, wouldn't it? I wonder if there is some poetry in Skyrim that is spoken by a dragon? We could always use the Word Walls as a basis, though, as they are usually seen lingering around the Rotmulaag they have.

If I recall, the Word Walls were raised by the ancient Nords, rather than the actual dragons.

I think the closest you might get to genuine dragon verse might be the chanting at the end of the main quest, seen here. It has a somewhat musical quality to it.

paarthurnax

Kahdremonik

Yes, it would, wouldn't it? I wonder if there is some poetry in Skyrim that is spoken by a dragon? We could always use the Word Walls as a basis, though, as they are usually seen lingering around the Rotmulaag they have.

If I recall, the Word Walls were raised by the ancient Nords, rather than the actual dragons.

I think the closest you might get to genuine dragon verse might be the chanting at the end of the main quest, seen here. It has a somewhat musical quality to it.

Yes, and it is at least somewhat intelligble. Taking that as a sample should provide ample enough foundation for building on the Dov as a culture.

*Performs Resurrection Rites*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FLQ4rACE-0

Linky to song with some Dovahzul lyrics, just thought that they'd belong here.

Kahdremonik

*Performs Resurrection Rites*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FLQ4rACE-0

Linky to song with some Dovahzul lyrics, just thought that they'd belong here.

Yes, I love that song! It fits perfectly with the discussion because the Dovahzul lyrics are very brief and straightforward. They're not complete sentences, but instead serve to convey broad and powerful ideas with few words.