Why is poetry often figurative?

appeals to the
heart as prose appeals to the mind. The poet uses figures of speech to extend the literal sense
of a word so that it affects the emotions and feelings of the reader. Most often, poetry
expresses a personal concern or a serious observation which must be given due care and
attention. If these things are overtly expressed, they won't have the desired effect on a
reader. A critical response from the reader can be elicited only when he is subjected to deep
contemplation through the use of figurative language.