Can Bad Poetry Have Value?

An inappropriate question

In response to this debate question, one can only respond that this is an inappropriate question. 

No, bad poetry cannot have value because there is no such thing as bad poetry. There is only poetry. 

Bad versus good is subjective. In other words, it is how you see it. Bad is a word that is misused in terms of its application to poetry; so is the word good. Bad implies a moral judgment of some kind, as does the use of the word good. This question should be re-phrased.

When one looks at something, whether it is poetry or not, it can be categorized as good or bad, depending upon how one sees it. No two people see everything exactly the same way and that is a good thing. Our world would be terribly boring, if we all saw everything exactly the same way, as everyone else.

Look at some examples with respect to poetry.

For instance, consider an example in which there is no rhyme. Does that make it a bad piece of poetry or is it just one that has no rhyme? Something lacking in a piece of poetry does not necessarily render it either good or bad. all poetry does not have to rhyme. 

Next, consider the situation in which there is an error in a piece of poetry. It could be considered bad poetry because it has an error, but does that make it bad? With a correction of that error, it could be considered good poetry, by the same person.

What if there are lines that repeat a thought? To some, that might indicate bad poetry, but to others, repetition means emphasis. Emphasis in a piece of poetry can be good, rather than bad.

Look at the use of inappropriate language. Does that render a piece of poetry bad? Probably not to some, but to others, it could be considered horrific. Place the problem of the poetry in its proper perspective. It has inappropriate language, which can be corrected, if one takes the time and energy to do so.

Poetry expresses what a poet is attempting to state. He or she can succeed or fail to state that which is intended. There are times when things are inadequately expressed, at least in our biased judgment. At the same time, that same piece of poetry may have stated exactly what the poet intended the poem to state. Is that good or bad? Again, this cannot be a judgment call.

Perfect poetry could only come from God, as everything in the heavenly realm would be perfect or would it be? Perhaps perfection, on a higher plane of thought, has to include a degree of imperfection and it is that imperfection which creates difference and distinguishes one poet's poetry from another's.

Maybe we could suggest that only poetry from God is good. In that case, there could be no good poetry from any human being. But, one has to argue that everything comes from God. Being from God, it all has to be good. Again, we remove the good versus bad judgment factor, because every human being, as a poet, is on the same plane of existence. We are all human.

"To err is human, to forgive is divine."

It is possible that poetry can be an inspiration from God, penned by the hand of a human poet. One might suggest that this would definitely be good poetry, but then, which person is qualified to name the source of the poetry? Who is willing and able to play the role of the divine judge? Obviously, no human being is qualified to do that.

Since there is no such a thing as bad poetry, how can one compare it with what is good poetry? Poetry is poetry, always was and ever will be. How we choose to interpret it, is strictly up to us.

Poets can be extremely critical of each other's poetry. It is like stating, "You don't write poetry like I do, so that makes yours bad and mine good!" 

Or, on the other hand, "I don't write poetry the way you do, so that makes mine bad and yours good."

There is always the battle for the king on the throne, in every field of endeavor. The king sits on the top of the totem pole, but everyone else is in a position to take a potshot at him. The same is true if one refers to a queen instead of a king. The good is on the throne and the bad is not? What is this throne or does it exist in any kind of a real world?

Vying for topnotch in anything is like asking for instant death. The good is targeted and annihilated. It is idealized. On the other hand, it can be mocked or ridiculed.

Most of us do not understand poetry well enough to make any kind of a judgment call about it. If we do, we are more than likely making a serious error in judgment.

"Judge not lest ye be judged."

Judging a piece of poetry is like judging the poet. He or she stands judged as good or bad, by whatever piece of poetry is under scrutiny, at that moment in time.

There is poetry, not good or bad poetry and thus, asking the question "Can bad poetry have value?" would seem to be an inappropriate question.

All poetry has value.