1. What makes a poem a poem?

2. What are three common characteristics of poetry?

3. Are songs poems? Why or why not?

4. Can speeches or tweets be considered poems?

(It doesnt need to be complete sentences but at least well explained)

1. What makes a poem a poem is the ability to make the reader feel something. I know that can happen with prose, as well, but it seems to me it must happen with a poem. As has already been mentioned, a poem is different in form from prose--the normal rules of writing just don't apply. That doesn't mean a poem can't have form or punctuation, but it doesn't have to. One of the books I teach from is called Sound and Sense, which comes from the idea that poetry should match its sound with its meaning (sense).

2. Rhyme, form, sound.

3. Yes, without a musical rhythm poetry is dead. Poetry is a sense of expression, completely based on imagination which we portray in words and rhythm is used by adorning words ... Music (words + melody) can be seen as poetry.

4. Yes they could!