A poem is a type of creative writing that, generally, makes use of a specific dedication to language. There are many different types of poems, and defining what a poem actually is can be a rather difficult thing. This is why we generally define many literary forms by what they are not. A poem is, therefore, not a piece of prose or dramatic writing. Some of the most common characteristics of poetry are rhythm, rhyme, and meter. However, a poem does not need to make use of any of these characteristics.