No but you would never know it!!!!

Because they enjoy writing poems,using language and that is their craft.

Because when you are a creative person and words are your love and your delight there is no pleasure on earth that can match expressing the joys, sorrows and insights that we all have but that most of us cannot put into words. Poets enrich the human experience not only of themselves but of all of us. In answer to demikay's comment: Why does one musician choose the piano and another the violin? It all depends on the particular skill set you have in addition to your wordsmithing talent. A major skill of the poet is the ability to express very complex ideas using very few words. Being a novelist does not mean one cannot write poetry - many novelists have been distinguished poets. But the skills of the novelist are not those of the poet, and vice versa. And few of us are blessed with more than one skill set. Journalists. Hmm. OK, as a novelist myself, I'm going to take my courage in both hands and say that I don't count non-fiction and journalism as creative in the same sense that poetry, novels, short stories and plays are creative. In the latter, something that didn't exist before has been brought into being out of 'air, thin air' (to quote a great playwright), whereas in the former existing facts are being organised into coherence, enhanced by insights. Essays fall somewhere inbetween. It's a great pity that writing essays has fallen so out of fashion.

to make love to language -- to feel the sounds pouring between my teeth -- issuing from tongue past lips -- across sky -- lapping at the portals of ears -- tickling the recipient mind

Poetry helps me release emotions into words on a paper, straight from my heart. I love poetry. It's been my best friend on numerous occasions.