Why do poems have numbers in the margin?

Answer 1

No. They just (usually) have shorter lines like this:

once there was

a dude

and he

liked pie

perhaps you are reading from a textbook or a class worksheet, as this is not usually present in normal publications of poetry or literature. these numbers usually indicate what line is across from it, the word count after that line, or anything else of that nature.

the reason for this is to give a reference point to the reader. for example, if asked "what is the significance of line 25?" the reader simply looks for the number 25 instead of having to count anything.

Answer 2

Numbers in the margin of a poem are typically used to indicate line numbers for reference and analysis. This allows readers and scholars to easily discuss specific sections of the poem without having to quote whole stanzas. It also helps in academic settings for citing specific lines.