Differentiating between Poetry and Song might seem very challenging, especially when you consider the fact that both literary forms are most times considered to share certain similarities. However, there are still some differences between the two.
Poetry and song have proven to have a very strong impact on human emotions. However, this emotional impact, usually a product of the various lines used in both, is usually stronger with songs compared to what you experience with poetry. The verses used in poems are a product of the writer's perspectives about certain issues, and that is why the effect of it in people might not be so strong.
Another difference is that the messages in most songs are very easy to understand because they are direct and straight in their meanings. In contrast, poems are most times written using different kinds of figures of speech that may not be easily understood unless you are familiar with them.