[GeorgeH]

Thought I'd throw my way of doing this into the ring

I use Word 2007 and then Calibre to convert to epub. The example below shows how it's done using that method.

The underscores in the quote are meant to represent leading indents. Although not seen in the quote, each line also has a hanging indent.

Now Boney's away from his warring and fighting,
__He has gone to a place, where there is naught can delight him,
He may sit there & dwell, on the glories he has seen oh,
__While forlorn he will mourn, on the Isle of Saint Helena.

__No more in Saint Cloud, will he appear in great splendour,
__Nor come forth from the crowd, like the great Alexander,

Using this:

.verse1 {
display: block;
text-indent: -21.3pt;
padding: 0;
margin: 0 0 6pt 35.5pt
}
.verse2 {
display: block;
text-indent: -21.3pt;
padding: 0;
margin: 0 0 6pt 49.7pt
}
.verse3 {
display: block;
text-indent: -21.3pt;
padding: 0;
margin: 0 0 12pt 49.7pt
}

<p class="verse1">Now Boney's away from his warring and fighting,</p>
<p class="verse2">He has gone to a place, where there is naught can delight him,</p>
<p class="verse1">He may sit there & dwell, on the glories he has seen oh,</p>
<p class="verse3">While forlorn he will mourn, on the Isle of Saint Helena.</p>
<p class="verse2">No more in Saint Cloud, will he appear in great splendour,</p>
<p class="verse2">Nor come forth from the crowd, like the great Alexander,</p>