To me,

poetry means freedom

to not use a period at the conclusion of a sentence

Poetry means being taken seriously

even when I use the word "bzzzap" 

to describe the static shock that ran through my nervous system

when I was called to the stage at my first poetry recital.

Poetry means output

of stored inspiration, defragmentation of scramble thoughts,

providing only the reward of a lighter load.

Poetry means connections

made in the brain that memorizing equations won't create,

and connections made with an audience

that one can only fathom after he's left his inconspicuous seat among them,

stared them straight in the eyes,

and said, "I'll be reciting-