Few things:
Rhythm, rhyme, meter, visual presentation, the cadence of speech, are a short list of what I'd say sets poetry apart from other word combinations. They are the tools poetry uses to capture your attention.
Does it work?
Lets find out. Here's a poem by Kay Ryan:
Pitcher
A pitcher molds
the air in it, dividing
from the air beyond
the air it holds. And
should the pitcher
vanish, something
would take a minute
to escape, a gradually
diminishing integrity,
a thinning pitcherful
of pitcher shape.
Kay Ryan, everyone. United States Poet Laureate from 2008 to 2010. In other words, helping you appreciate poetry was her job for two years.
Two years is a long time to be Poet Laureate. C'mon. Read that again.
Here's one by Maria von Rilke (in german):
Der römische Brunnen
Aufsteigt der Strahl und fallend gießt
Er voll der Marmorschale Rund,
Die, sich verschleiernd, überfließt
In einer zweiten Schale Grund;
Die zweite gibt, sie wird zu reich,
Der dritten wallend ihre Flut,
Und jede nimmt und gibt zugleich
Und strömt und ruht.
Howzat? Let me know if you enjoyed these in the comments. Also let me know if you can find a good translation of the Roman Fountain. I'm having trouble googling it.
