To what extent can the creative writer re-write history in order to produce a historical poem?

Answer 1

History is not stable from itself. We tend to believe that history describes what has really happened.
In fact it is just the things that we note of the things that happened.
I've grown up in two different countries and I've seen how differently can be described the same events.
This is a link to a poem that describes what you are asking about.
It is about a poet who has to decide how he will describe some historical events in his poem.
http://users.hol.gr/~barbanis/cavafy/darius.html

I guess the most important thing is the message that you want to give and not the description of facts.

Answer 2

to whatever extent they want

there is no limit to creativity, only to historocity

if you are worried about history, you can't change anything

if you are concerned with story, you can change everything

I don't think there are any historical poetry police out there

your poem should achieve what you want it to achieve

Answer 3

The sky's the limit for the creative mind.

Answer 4

They can exagerate the facts and and alter the facts in minor situations, but they can't change major events and still call it historical.

Answer 5

The one about Paul Revere isn't exactly historically accurate...

Answer 6

Well, I'm pretty sure nobody ever stuck macaroni in their cap...