There is no definitive answer to the question 'What is Poetry'. A thousand scholars have tried to approximate an answer and fell short. Poetry cannot and should not be approached in a scholarly fashion. It defies scientific analysis.

A lot of clever people have felt compelled to say a lot of clever things about poetry or about individual poems. But that is beside the point. The point being, that poems cannot be dissected, they must be felt.
At best you can render a personal opinion, and that is fine, but any claim to authoritative judgment is sheer hubris.

Poetry does not address itself to the intellect; it targets the heart and soul. You might as well ask the question 'What is soul?', an equally pointless undertaking.

If and when you read or hear a poem that speaks to you, then you will know what poetry is, but only what it is to YOU. When you come across a poem that leaves you cold, that poem is no less poetry than is the one you intuitively respond to.

Poetry is not 'this' or 'that'. Poetry just is. It exists in the realm of personal emotion.

It is my belief, and strictly my own, that in order to get a grasp on poetry, a certain emotional maturity is required. If you are ready to look under the rug and treat with the feelings that you have swept there, then you are ready to delve into poetry.

As my own poetry gains in popularity, I get invited to perform my poems at many different public venues. In general, those people that attend my readings are already equipped with a willingness to open themselves up. However, not infrequently I do attract newcomers to poetry. It is for the benefit of those 'first timers' that I open almost every reading with my poem titled 'Poetry'.

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- I also encourage you to read the paragraph Parameter, which sheds more light on this subject.

- A related quote: Why Poetry

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