Here's why:
* Figurative Language: They use metaphors, similes, hyperbole, and other poetic devices.
* Structure and Rhythm: They often follow specific poetic forms and have a distinct rhythm and meter.
* Emotional Expression: The Psalms explore a wide range of emotions, from joy and praise to grief and anger, in a way that is characteristic of poetry.
* Parallelism: A key feature of Hebrew poetry, parallelism is frequently used in the Psalms, where similar thoughts or ideas are expressed in different words.
While some Psalms might appear more like prose, the vast majority demonstrate the characteristics of poetry.