What is poetry?

As the title states I need to know what makes poetry different from any other write? What give it that specialty?
I don't know if what I post here is considered poetry or not but I'd like to know what it is.
I looked at Google and found many different ideas about poetry.
so maybe you can share your opinion or your facts about this

Poetry is a written imagery. It can bring live emotions with words.

I think no one definition can define poetry.

For me,

-poetry is a written release of emotion containing imagery, multiple meanings, metaphors, and secrets.
-poetry is my diary. I do not write random thoughts in a diary, however when I need someone to vent to but don't want to tell a human, I rely on paper.
-poetry is detailed descriptions of your muse in form, rhyme, or free verse.
-poetry is a literary painting.
-poetry is a metaphor itself, for some. (One of my best friends..I bond with it..I hang out with it.)

Poetry is whatever you want your words to be Max. :)

Poetry is a pain in the arse.

That's an interesting opinion Darren :P

and Chelsey you are right but I mean on the Art scale
how is a write considered a poem?
they just say its a poem or a normal write according to the writer or there are some rules some points that a write should have to be a poem?

Well here's the definition.

Noun 1. Literary work in which special intensityis given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use ofdistinctive style and rhythm;...

So after reading that..Ithink you should be able to tell the difference... a letter to someone in huge paragraphs with no style, structure or rhthym is just a letter......a vent is the same thing, perhaps an over use of i's, lack of imagery, no style....just a vent not a poem.

Poetry is the closest thing you'll get to natural uninhibited, raw emotion in written form.

For me, poetry is... its really something. Yeah, yeah I know, not much of a description lol, probably doesnt help at all but Im sure most of you gets it, what I meant. :)
... More like The Beatles song Something, cant point your finger at what it is, just "something"... Anyways, Im sure some folks here can help you out a lot better, like the ones who posted before me, so keep on reading. :)

Poetry is an idea that swims around your mind for days, eventually escapes onto a page (or computer). There it sits proudly unfinished

and remains

unfinished.

What makes it different from another write is that the author thinks it's a poem.

Poetry is trying to be clever...
It isn't a ramble
or feelings of anguish poured out onto a page..

It has structure
it tells a story
it asks many questions
it describes something beautiful to somebody in great detail, so much so that even if they cannot see, they can picture it.

for most of us

poetry is a waste of an hour of our lives
an excercise in back slapping
where we are merely pretenders

time long gone
and never returning

***Edit

^
what a miserable git I can be sometimes.....

That is what poetry can do to you I suppose,

...................Poetry is a release.................

My defnition of poetry:

Poetry is the art of dressing words.