Poetry is the highest form of expression.
If you want a definition of poetry, there is not one. You can feel free to look for a definition in a dictionary, but that would not tell you much about poetry.
Poetry is recited, as much as it is written. But most importantly, poetry is felt.
A poet derives inspiration, to write poems, from things both seen and unseen. As I sit at home and watch the rain, I feel a surge of excitement deep within me. The excitement builds up, becoming stronger, and I feel that it must be channeled into creative expression. And hence, I sit down to write a poem about the various images of nature. There are endless sources of inspiration all around us.
But we must also go beyond what is visible to find sources of inspiration. A poet can feel that that the living beings on Earth are not the only ones in this gigantic universe. A poet can imagine the presence of extraterrestrial beings and ponder what a conversation with such beings, should they ever make their presence known to us, would be like. The power of imagination can prompt a poet to craft a poem regarding the possibility of such communication. As I said, a poet derives inspiration from things both seen and unseen.
Poets use poetry to go beyond the confines of time, writing both about the past and the future. Poetry allows man to break free from physical reality and create, through the arrangement of words, endless possibilities. Poets can assume any role, perform any action, make any sacrifices, or win any battles, through poems. By writing poems, poets can be what they are, as well as what they are not, whenever and wherever they want.
Poetry is not a skill to be learned; it is a gift that is to be loved and honored. The love for poetry is a spark that God creates within us. It is only when the flame starts getting hotter that a person realizes the need for poetic expression.