"Ode to Billie Joe" does have great lyrics.

One poem I taught myself by 2nd grade was "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes because I loved it--no other reason. I suppose you could do it as a rap. Personally, I've never cared for any of the musical adaptations of the poem. None capture its "to-be-read-on-a-cold-winter's-night-by-the-fire-with-the-room-all-in-shimmerin-shiftin-shadows-with-a-hot-cup-o'-tea-while-the-wind-outside-is-a-howlin'" feel.

When I saw "Jabberwocky" way back when it first came out, I was surprised how many people in the theater could recite the poem along with the troubadour on the screen. Made me feel ashamed that I didn't know it, so I bought "Alice" and read through cover to cover. I can still recite poem from memory to this day (I just did it). I also remember how to interpret the opening an closing verses as it was explained to Alice.

I suppose you could do that as a rap too. Maybe someone should do that--make an album rap from all the great poetry in literature. Even do one of haiku with all sorts of cool Zen-like fx.