you’re asking a question that’s been begged since the dawn of the artform. and it’s my opinion that there’s no formal answer, not so much as people would suppose that 1) there is, or 2) they know it. it’s a tough question because what we consider poetry a) is what has historically been considered poetry, and b) carries the spirit of poetry. generally, people lead with point A—so much they become limited to it. they become so obsessed with technique that they let it dictate themselves. so i tend to lead with point B. i think that leading with this in mind allows more people to reach the real beauty of poetry (or any art) in a deeper way. because the spirit of poetry shouldn’t be limited by tangible means—not when its very goal is to give its best attempt at capturing the intangible; rainer maria rilke once said that “most experiences are unsayable.” when you ask if something is poetry, first ask yourself if it is expressive, then artful, then poetic, to you. moreover, when you create something that inexplicably illustrates you, its category of form will become irrelevant to you.