Lol, such a simple definition for such a (usually) complex art! Ok, here's my final attempt at unraveling my train of thought. In general, I don't like being confused about what a poem is trying to say. I like to be given some direction, not be dropped into a no man's land of words that mean nothing to me except confusion. Prose is often described as "wordy" while poetry can often be "choppy." However you define it, the definition of what poetry is is as unique as all the poems ever written.

Au contraire!! I'm going to have to comment again!

Of course a definition is unique - it has to be 'by definition'. If a definition is not unique then all language becomes useless because every word can have a meaning given it by the person who uses it. We'd lose the ability to communicate altogether!

Hence why there must be a definition of poetry that enables it to be differentiated from normal prose.

I'd agree with you with the preference for straightforward poetry though. I quite like the poems with clever hidden meanings which are open to interpretation (that you mentioned earlier) but what I like about them is the one definite thing that I see in them!

Just to be difficult: www.dictionary.com

Poem:
1. A verbal composition designed to convey experiences, ideas, or emotions in a vivid and imaginative way, characterized by the use of language chosen for its sound and suggestive power and by the use of literary techniques such as meter, metaphor, and rhyme.
2. A composition in verse rather than in prose.
3. A literary composition written with an intensity or beauty of language more characteristic of poetry than of prose.
4. A creation, object, or experience having beauty suggestive of poetry.

Prose:
1. Ordinary speech or writing, without metrical structure.
2. Commonplace expression or quality.
3. Roman Catholic Church. A hymn of irregular meter sung before the Gospel.

'tis true! yet the views and comments on any sort of writting are (generally) much less than they are with pictures. like blood princess, and lots of others who have brought it up before, i too wonder why that is.

i just wanted to add: in the purest sense of the word, poetry need only be metered, not rhyming.

An interesting thing about that is that the post views from the pictures are all members where as the story view counts include non members who click the thread/story as well.

so it's not really sex that sells, it more like hoo-hoo's and thingies. :D

You're writing is very good, Blood Princess. I posted in response to one of your poems that, to be honest, back when responding to stories and poems had to be done in a separate thread, I got out of the habit of both reading and writing.

This thread encouraged me to go back and look again and maybe now that we can respond in the same thread, maybe I'll get back to reading more.

It's true it's not much fun writing if no one is reading ... or responding to your works. For me, I hope you keep up the great work.

Thank you for all the encouragement. Knowing that people enjoy what I write makes it all the more enjoyable to write them. No doubt I'll have more to come in the future.

i just remembered a quote aboute poems that i learned in a high school writing class...poetry is the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits

dammit, i can't remember who said it, but i think it defines peotry perfectly.