2012 Spring Short Story Festival 62:91

1. A story has a beginning middle and an end. 
2. It has a setting.  
3. It has characters/actors.
4. It has a conflict.  
5. The conflict has a  resolution 

These are the elements that I consider add up to a story.  The story can appear as a poem, or in a regular set of prose.  As long as the story has the five elements than it works and can be called a short story.   Here is a poem that works as a short story:   The Two April Mornings by William Wordsworth.