Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest
The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest has been hosted by the Philolexian Society since 1986, drawing crowds of 200-300 students and participants vying for the title of best of the worst. Columbia faculty members serve as judges. The event is usually held in November and is heralded by the appearance of Bad Poetry in Motion flyers around campus featuring some of the best (or worst?) verses of the last 20 years.
It is named for "bad" poet (and Columbia alumnus) Joyce Kilmer. His work "Trees" is read aloud by audience members at the contest's end.
Recent winning poems have been posted online on Philo's blog (2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003)
2008's competition will be held November 11th at 8:30 PM in the Lehman Auditorium.
External links
- Worst Poetry in the World Draws Crowd, Columbia Spectator, November 16, 2007
- Forensic Poets are on the scene, The Bwog, November 16, 2007
- No Frosts Allowed, The Bwog, November 18, 2006
- The Worst Poet at Columbia, and Proud of It, Columbia Spectator, December 3, 2003
- Letters to the Editor: Article about Bad Poetry Contest Contained Several Small Mistakes, Columbia Spectator, December 3, 2002
- Only CU Students Can Make Bad Poe-Tree, Columbia Spectator, November 25, 2002
- Poets Perform in Off-Beat Event, Columbia Spectator, December 1, 2000
- About New York; No, Not a Curse But a Jersey Prize For Worst Verse, New York Times, December 5, 1987
