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A prayer is an entreaty or solemn request of some divine source such as God, Allah, or the Buddha. Often it has repeated phrases and a pattern of wording that uses the same number of words or rhyming words in each line of the prayer. Prayers are often spoken out loud or in groups where everyone speaks in unison. Prayers are often set to music and become carols. Sometimes prayers are said in turbulent emotional states such as despair or pain.
Poetry also makes use of rhyming, repeated phrases, and is both a type of speech and a type of song. Musical aspects of the words are suggested in the phrasing and wording of a poem. Poetry can often be easily set to music. Indeed most popular songs are at their source poetry. Invoking emotions or feelings being the intended goal.
I will often rewrite a common prayer in my own words. I do this partly because a prayer for me must be something I believe in. I can not just blindly repeat something that has no meaning for me or is not true to my understanding. Since most prayers are meant to be repeated one needs something not only applicable to the need of the prayer but also easy to remember. Poetic writing always seems the best way to write or rewrite a prayer.
In a sense a poem is also an entreaty to the subject of the work in that the essence of that is meant to be conveyed. A poem is speaking to the object or subject of the writing. Seeking to communicate that to others or to understand it. A prayer is asking for something and very often so is a poem. The only difference is the assumed divinity of the subject of the poem or prayer. Reverence can often be seen in both forms of writing and speaking.
The next time you read a poem think of it as a prayer and see if it doesn't give you some further insight. When you next say a prayer think of it as a poem and you may easily see how the words can be extended to include more. Prayer and poetry, very much the same thing.
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