Yah, Silverlock is all about the embedded poems. Sort of like a musical, where the story just exists to provide an opportunity for the cast to burst into song periodically. Richard was particularly taken with the song about Gilgamesh ("I remember bawdy days, when the earth was ringing//Tamas, Gilgamesh and I, clinking cups and singing...") Some filker set it to music once, and Richard used to sing it to our kids as a lullaby.