Template:Poetically break lines

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{{Poetically break lines}} is a template designed to format poetry simply and reliably. It differs from {{Poem quote}} in two significant ways: it does not add spacing around the poem for that sets it apart as “block quote”, and it automatically provides hanging indentation when lines are so long that they wrap. This is an advantage in a few specific instances, such as when a poem is part of a table or when a few lines are much longer than the rest. The hanging indent is intentionally large so that they are not confused with lines that are intentionally indented as part of the poem's form.

Usage

Syntax

{{Poetically break lines|Line 1
Line 2
Line 3
...}}

An example follows, using columns as a width-limiting factor:

The Dream

Dear love, for nothing less than thee

Would I have broke this happy dream;

⁠ It was a theme

For reason, much too strong for fantasy.

Therefore thou waked'st me wisely; yet

My dream thou brokest not, but continued'st it.

Thou art so true that thoughts of thee suffice

To make dreams truths, and fables histories;

Enter these arms, for since thou thought'st it best,

Not to dream all my dream, let's act the rest.

As lightning, or a taper's light,

Thine eyes, and not thy noise waked me;

⁠ Yet I thought thee

—For thou lovest truth—an angel, at first sight;

But when I saw thou saw'st my heart,

And knew'st my thoughts beyond an angel's art,

When thou knew'st what I dreamt, when thou knew'st when

Excess of joy would wake me, and camest then,

I must confess, it could not choose but be

Profane, to think thee any thing but thee.

Coming and staying show'd thee, thee,

But rising makes me doubt, that now

⁠ Thou art not thou.

That love is weak where fear's as strong as he;

'Tis not all spirit, pure and brave,

If mixture it of fear, shame, honour have;

Perchance as torches, which must ready be,

Men light and put out, so thou deal'st with me;

Thou camest to kindle, go'st to come; then I

Will dream that hope again, but else would die.

By default the template adds some margins to the poem (the same margins used by {{Numbered verses}}). Use the |margin= parameter to set different values – e.g. |margin=0 or |margin=1em auto (same syntax of the CSS margin property).

See also

The above documentation is transcluded from Template:Poetically break lines/doc. (edit | history)
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