Why is Proverbs poetic?

Understanding the Poetic Nature of Proverbs

The linguist Roman Jakobson described proverbs as “the most substantial coded unit found in our communication, while also being the briefest form of poetic expression.” These sayings often incorporate conventional poetic techniques, such as balanced phrasing (e.g., “Out of sight, out of mind”) and binary construction (for instance, “A stitch in time saves nine”).