Title: Poetry block
Author: Antonio Villegas
Published: March 7, 2019
Last modified: May 29, 2026

---

# Poetry block

## In this article

 * [Common uses for the Poetry block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#common-uses-for-the-poetry-block)
 * [Add a Poetry block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#add-a-poetry-block)
 * [Block toolbar](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#block-toolbar)
    - [Transform to](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#transform-to)
    - [Block-moving tools](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#block-moving-tools)
    - [Move arrows](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#move-arrows)
    - [Change text alignment](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#change-text-alignment)
    - [Bold and Italics](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#bold-and-italics)
    - [Link](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#link)
    - [More rich text options](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#more-rich-text-options)
    - [More options](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#more-options)
 * [Block settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#block-settings)
    - [Color](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#color)
    - [Background image](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#background-image)
    - [Typography](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#typography)
    - [Dimensions](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#dimensions)
    - [Border](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#border)
    - [Advanced](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#advanced)
 * [Changelog](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#changelog)

[ Back to top](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#wp--skip-link--target)

[Go to the List of Blocks](https://wordpress.org/support/article/blocks/)

The Poetry block is specifically designed for writing poetry, song lyrics, or other
literary expressions. Unlike the Paragraph block, the Poetry block preserves all
spaces and line breaks exactly as you enter them. This makes it ideal for content
where formatting, such as indentation or line breaks, is critical to the meaning
or presentation.

## 󠀁[Common uses for the Poetry block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#common-uses-for-the-poetry-block)󠁿

 * **Poems:** Maintain the structure of stanzas and verses
 * **Song Lyrics:** Preserve the formatting of choruses and verses
 * **Literary Excerpts:** Keep the original spacing and line breaks intact

In version 7.0, the Verse block was renamed to Poetry block

## 󠀁[Add a Poetry block](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#add-a-poetry-block)󠁿

To add a Poetry block, click on the “Block Inserter” (+)  and select the Poetry 
block.

You can also type `/poetry` and hit enter in a new paragraph block to add one quickly.

![Adding a Poetry block with a slash command](https://wordpress.org/documentation/
files/2019/03/poetry-block-add.png)

[Detailed instructions on adding blocks](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/adding-a-new-block/)

x

## 󠀁[Block toolbar](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#block-toolbar)󠁿

Every block comes with unique toolbar icons and block-specific user controls that
allow you to manipulate the block right in the editor.

The Poetry block shows nine buttons in the block toolbar:

 * Transform to
 * Drag icon
 * Move arrows
 * Change text alignment
 * Bold
 * Italic
 * Hyperlink
 * More Rich Text options
 * More options

![Verse block toolbar](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2019/03/Screenshot-
2026-03-02-at-3.03.15-PM-1.png)

The layout of the Poetry block on your site may vary according to the styles set
by the theme you are using.

### 󠀁[Transform to](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#transform-to)󠁿

![Verse block tranforms](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2019/03/Screenshot-
2026-03-02-at-3.05.04-PM-1.png)

Click on the “Transform” button to convert the Poetry block into a Paragraph, Group,
Details, Preformatted or Columns block.

### 󠀁[Block-moving tools](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#block-moving-tools)󠁿

To drag and drop the block to a new location on the page template, click and hold
the rectangle of dots, then drag to the new location. The blue separator line indicates
where the block will be placed. Release the left mouse button when you find the 
new location to place the block.

### 󠀁[Move arrows](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#move-arrows)󠁿

![Verse block move tools](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2019/03/move-
Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-3.10.19-PM-1.png)

Use the block-moving tools to move the Poetry block.

The drag or six dots icon allows you to freely reposition the block anywhere within
the editor by holding the icon and dragging it to the new location.

You can also use the arrow icons to move the block up or down within the group of
nested blocks or when there are multiple blocks.

[Get more information about moving a block within the editor.](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/moving-blocks/)

### 󠀁[Change text alignment](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#change-text-alignment)󠁿

![Block toolbar to change text alignment](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/
2019/03/poetry-align.png)

 * **Align text left** – Make the block left-aligned.
 * **Align text center** – Make the block alignment centered.
 * **Align text right **– Make the block right aligned.

### 󠀁[Bold and Italics](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#bold-and-italics)󠁿

![Verse block bold and italic settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/
2019/03/bold-italic-Screenshot-2026-03-02-at-3.10.19-PM-1.png)

You can select the text of the block and use the “Bold” option or “Ctrl+B” / “Cmd
+B” on your keyboard to bold it, which is usually heavier than the surrounding text.

You can select the text of the block and use the “Italic” option or “Ctrl+I” / “
Cmd+I” on your keyboard to italicize it, which usually appears slanted to the right.

### 󠀁[Link](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#link)󠁿

Use the link option to add a link to the Poetry block. It’s also possible to set
it to open the link in a new tab.

[Read about more link editing options.](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/link-editing/)

### 󠀁[More rich text options](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#more-rich-text-options)󠁿

The drop-down menu to the left of the [More options menu](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/more-options/)
contains a range of additional rich text editing options such as highlighting, inline
code, strikethrough, and more.

[Read about more rich text editing options.](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/more-text-editing-overview/)

### 󠀁[More options](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#more-options)󠁿

The Options menu represented by three vertical dots on the far right of the toolbar
gives you more features such as the ability to duplicate or remove the block.

[Read about these and other settings.](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/more-options/)

## 󠀁[Block settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#block-settings)󠁿

Every block has specific options in the editor sidebar in addition to the options
found in the block toolbar. 

![Poetry block settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/files/2019/03/poetry-
block-settings-392x1024.png)

### 󠀁[Color](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#color)󠁿

The Poetry block provides Color settings options to change the text and background
colors.

[See this guide for more information about changing colors](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/colors-settings-overview/)

### 󠀁[Background image](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#background-image)󠁿

Choose the Add background image button to select an image to appear behind the text
of the Poetry block.

### 󠀁[Typography](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#typography)󠁿

The Poetry block provides typography settings to change the font family, size, appearance,
line height, letter case, letter spacing, and decoration.

[Get more details about changing typography settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/typography-settings-overview/)

### 󠀁[Dimensions](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#dimensions)󠁿

The Poetry block provides dimension settings options to change padding and margin
size.

[Learn more about dimension controls](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/dimension-controls-overview/)

### 󠀁[Border](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#border)󠁿

The Poetryblock provides border settings options to add border color, width, and
radius.

[Learn more about border settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/border-settings-overview/)

### 󠀁[Advanced](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#advanced)󠁿

The Poetry block provides the following Advanced settings options: HTML Anchor, 
Additional CSS Class(es), Additional CSS, and Styles.

[Learn more about advanced settings](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/advanced-settings-overview/)

## 󠀁[Changelog](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/verse-block/?output_format=md#changelog)󠁿

 * 2026-05-20 (props to @awetz583)
    - Updated Verse block name to Poetry block
    - Updated screenshots and video for 7.0
    - Added link to advanced settings page
 * 2026-03-02 (props to @karthickmurugan @prikari @itsjustdj @jyolsna @rollybueno
   @ramsesdelr @benazeer @awetz583)
    - Updated information about the block
    - Updated screenshots
    - Updated headings
    - Added Block settings: Background image
 * 2023-11-21
    - Updated screenshots for 6.4
 * 2023-07-25
    - Fix broken image URL
 * 2023-06-08
    - Replaced “More rich text options” section with short summary linking to new
      dedicated page for rich text editing options.
 * 2022-06-02
    - Updated the content for 6.0.
    - Added ALT tags for images.
 * 2022-06-02
    - Screenshots as per WordPress 6.0
 * 2022-02-04
    - Screenshots and video as per WordPress 5.9
    - Minor option updates
 * 2020-09-29
    - Screenshots and video as per WordPress 5.5
    - Added feature changes in Block Toolbar
    - Added feature changes in Block Settings
    - Added “Go back to the list of Blocks” to the top of the page
 * Created 2019-03-07

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First published

March 7, 2019

Last updated

May 29, 2026