Poetry, almost by definition, calls attention to its language and form.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
What actually makes poetry poetry is of course impossible to define. We recognize it when we hear it, when we see it, but we can't define it.
But poetry is a way of language, it is not its subject or its maker's background or interests or hobbies or fixations. It is nearer to utterance than history.
Poetry is not only a set of words which are chosen to relate to each other; it is something which goes much further than that to provide a glimpse of our vision of the world.
Poetry consists in a rhyming dictionary and things seen.
Poetry is the communication through words of certain experiences that can be communicated in no other way.
Poetry is ordinary language raised to the Nth power. Poetry is boned with ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions, all held together by the delicate, tough skin of words.
In every culture, in every language, there is expressive play, expressive word play; there's language use to different purposes that we would call poetry.
Poetry is a vocal art for me - but not necessarily a performative one. It might be reading to oneself or recalling some lines by memory.
Poems are a form of music, and language just happens to be our instrument - language and breath.
I keep trying to define 'poetry,' but it's so difficult.