Taruan Poetry

Taruan poetry is a celebrated part of Taruan culture, known for its simplicity yet thought provoking prose. Much of Taruan poetry is very short, although there are no structured rules to scaffold Taruan poetry. Taruan scholars express that Taruan poetry emphasises the 'water' of the Taruan culture, which is something that is not defined like earth, not aggressive like fire or unsubstantial like wind. The poem must be a significant reflection of the environment, the self, a feeling or a situation.

The winter lies [to lie]

so cold

I surrender.

Hurried she;
in autumn clover
A white wedding.

We never knew our fates

was love beneath the sea.

Taruan poetry has many forms, and the manner of which the sentences are written are nearly as important as the words themselves. The line breaks and the alignment of the poem are strategic techniques in Taruan poetry. Careful phrases are selected to suggest meaning that are difficult to acknowledge without the Taruan context, such as 'white wedding', being a Federation wedding. During the Federation occupation of Taru, many Taruan women married into Federation families to better their position for themselves and their own family. However, 'autumn clover' is a bad omen to the Taruan people, despite being ascetically beautiful for foreigners. This suggests that she is desperate for the marriage, against the will of her own heart.

Most known poem

The most famous Taruan poem comes from a legend about a grey-skinned nymph named Aria.

United we stand

so far apart.

- From the The Love of Aria and Aries .

Taruan Poetry in Culture

Much of Taruan poetry is recited to support informal and formal conversation. It is not only fashionable, but a helpful aid to express a moment that is otherwise difficult to acknowledge or appreciate.

There was a genuine ache
in the wind's heart.
A thousand cuts in the golden sail
so death do apart.

Some Taruan poetry is influenced by Cantari literature and vice versa. 'A thousand cuts in the golden sail' is a common phase spoken in both Taruan and Cantarian, which is a way of expressing a feeling of helpless despair, being in a situation which is very tragic but unable to act. Much how the wind cannot help a ship continue its voyage if its sails are broken.