What is poetry

[milo]

ok, I'll bite - a poem is disruptive. This is for me the fundamental qualitative difference between "poetry" and "other types of writing that probably aren't exactly poetry." 

an article seeks to inform
an op-ed seeks to persuade
an essay seeks to analyze
a story seeks to engage

but a poem, above all else, seeks to challenge the reader's assumptions about the relationship between signifier and signified. all good poems do this, and anything that doesn't do this is likely to not be a poem.

I wouldn't call that a definition - more like a quality that you find in poetry

Here is the google definition:

Poetry is an ancient art form that uses the aesthetic, rhythmic, and musical qualities of language to evoke deep emotion, paint vivid imagery, or express complex ideas. Unlike standard prose (like essays or novels), poetry focuses on condensed meaning, sensory details, and creative structural design rather than just direct storytelling.

This seems better as it is clear and concise about what it means.  For those who need more, google continues:

How Poetry Works

While poetry constantly defies strict definitions, it generally distinguishes itself through three main pillars: [1, 2, 3]

• Sound: Poets pay special attention to the audio qualities of words. They often use rhythm (meter), repetition, rhyme, and alliteration to create a musical or incantatory effect. [1, 2, 3]
  
• Structure: Instead of flowing continuously into paragraph blocks, poems are organized into lines and stanzas. The physical layout on the page or the choice of a specific form (like a 14-line sonnet) is integral to the poem's meaning. [1, 2, 3]
  
• Figurative Language: Poetry frequently bypasses literal meanings. It relies heavily on devices like metaphor, simile, and personification to link unrelated concepts and spark an "aha!" moment in the reader. [1, 2, 3, 4]
  

Pretty solid stuff