Can someone please explain why this is poetry?

That is “poetry” because in modern culture, anything can be anything if you just call it what you want it to be.

 

God, I hate Rattle. They've made quite a business out of funding through "contests." I'd put my $20 entry fee in that they already knew the winner long before they picked.

It's clearly prose poetry, but that always leads to the same debate which is whether prose poetry is a real thing or not. As by way of most anthologies, poetry courses, and the general field, it is poetry. But to anyone not thoroughly invested in the field, it's a bit silly. What generally defines prose poetry from flash fiction is the way in which the language moves by use of condensed poetic writing elements, often alliteration. Well done prose poetry kind of has a different feel to it.

But, honestly, I'm not really one to liken it to poetry. To me, its flash fiction that's a bit flowery in its language use.

 

Prose poetry?
From wiki
Prose poetry is poetry written in prose form instead of verse form, while preserving poetic qualities such as heightened imagery, parataxis, and emotional effects.
Nope, it's not prose poetry according to that definition.

 

How is it not prose poetry according to that definition? I'm pretty sure it meets all the criteria.

 

I asked this question four years ago. I've slept since then.