What's the diffrence between poetry and delineated prose?

[Seraphim]

I turn the question to you. What do you think defines a work of prose or poetry? What have you observed -- on your own reading, not from what we've all replied -- marks the difference between poetry and prose? The question you asked suggests you haven't marked a difference. Yet, if you think prose can be poetic but not poetry, tell me why. And if you think that poetry can be prosaic but not prose, tell me how.

I kept trying to prompt Rowens into expounding on heightened language, because I think that’s key to my distinction. Prose can use heightened language, to the point it becomes poetic. Poetry depends upon it. If poetry is an intersection between prose and verse, that intersection can be closer to prose, or closer to verse. The more the intersection moves away from prose, the more poetic it becomes until it’s dependence on elements of verse moves it to the realm of poetry.

I started above discussing the use of repetition. For me that’s one major indicator. We discuss the rhythm of the line, but rarely do I see discussion on how to create rhythm. Meter is the foundation of rhythm. So when a writer starts looking at the meter of his lines - whether or not he’s counting the number of feet or not - and begins playing the various stresses with, or against the accent of the meter, creating more complex patterns of stress, he’s moving into the realm of poetry. When he begins paying stricter attention to the sounds of of words, how they complement each other, how they repeat, then he’s moving into the realm of poetry. When he makes decisive and significant use of rhetorical devices, he’s moving into the realm of poetry. When you see evidence of all these things, I deem myself to be looking at poetry; else, to me, it’s prose. I’m not a formalist, but I see forms as excellent opportunities to put our studies in prosody to practice. I love Japanese forms, because it’s a challenge to get the most out of a minimum of words. And one thing I like about my definition, is the final decision as to whether a piece is poetry depends on definite, articulable elements which can be taught and learned and which students can apply to heighten their own language, if you will, and to find their voice - not some vague philosophical speculation which provides no aid, that I can see, to improving one’s craft. I don’t want philosophy - I want to look at piece and see the author has demonstrated he has knowledge of tools and techniques of his craft, and he consciously applies those to a given work. If I see the effort, I conclude the author is at least attempting poetry.

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And if poetry starts becoming prosaic, it’s no longer poetry to me - it’s delineated prose.