(Disclaimer: the following is strictly the writers opinion, founded in their experience as a reader and amateur writer. All statements of fact should be taken with a large grain of salt, and possibly a swig of whisky)

Poetry is a longstanding media for transferring knowledge, and has looked and sounded many different ways over its long history of use. From the epics of ancient times, to Japanese haikus, to medieval tavern ditties, to Christian hymns, poetry has taken many forms, and continues to be a popular way of distributing knowledge or telling stories.

It is fitting then, that poetry features prominently in writing, particularly fantasy, which often has portions of themes covering history, religion, and culture. Poetry tends to feature heavily in these areas due to their use as a memory tool, it is easier to remember something if its put to music or has a cadence or rhyme, which allows these aspects to carry on stories, teachings, and thoughts well past their moment of creation, and helps practitioners of them remember core details or precepts.

When writing, I tend to see, and use, poetry in three main circumstances: Religious (or expressly magical) Context, Historical Retellings, or Cultural Detailing. Religiously, poetry is found and used in a variety of ways, whether from devoted cultists spouting eldritch texts, posh priests reciting ancient prophecies, or snaggle-toothed hags spouting generational curses, it is usually difficult to parse the full and intended meaning, often to the protagonists misfortune or the antagonists downfall. Historically, it is used to retell major events or legends, usually by grandiose or pompous bards, in a way that the common person is able to understand and remember. It also serves as a great way to summarize major events, without having to go into great detail. Culturally, poetry is often used to detail traditions or provide cultural songs, such as a harvest song or a wedding chant. This use tends towards filling in details, usually ones that are not outright detailed at any point, but given enough substance through their use that the reader can draw some conclusions.

Overall, poetry is a wonderful tool for writing and provides a powerful way to develop plot and build a world that the reader can be immersed in.

– An Angel’s Lament, found inscribed on a partially destroyed tombstone, the rest of the inscription having been rendered unreadable

“My lord is gone

His presence I cannot detect

Cast off is His form

And withdrawn is His spirit

Cry out you sons and daughters of the cities

Weep O children of the mountains

Lament you men of the desert

Sing your dirge O women of the forest

For his breath no longer stirs the grass

His voice is not found in the cry of the birds

His hands cannot touch the great trees of the lands

Nor His feet the towering mountains”