It’s hard to define what makes a poem a poem. For some people, it’s the sound. For others, it’s the way the words sit on the page or the special use of the language.
Practicing thinking skills helps you to understand how the form of a poem can add to its meaning. Learning about the speaker and the poem’s tone can also aid in interpreting the meaning of a poem. There are even essential language tools that poets use.
Exposure to a broad range of poets can sharpen reading skills.