Poetry to me is just a structure for writing, like a song is a structure for writing. Both essentially are poems - done with a different set of expectations given the form choice. Just like haiku or Pantoum, its another structure that I plug what I feel I want to say into. The cadence choice is usually in response to the beat, but when one is not present like in poetry, the beat is provided by the inherent arch of a narrative which the energy corresponds with.
A good performance poem is structurally very much like a song - there is some element of repetition whether it is thematic or an actual word selection. There is an introduction of topic (1st Verse) repetition (hook) elaboration/perspective on topic (2nd verse), repetition, a getting-to-the-core-of-the-issue moment (the bridge) and then back to the repetition of the hook to bring it full circle.
As far as content, every artist has their own Philosophy about what they need/want to say to feel fulfilled or accomplished in their objective. When I am doing music, I feel that the writing is the meat of the artistry, and so everything is mixed to showcase that content. The music is built around it, so that the lyrics are met with sounds like invoke the right emotional response to the weight of the content.
Hope that helps, my dude. Good luck with the engineering!
