The Alfred Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest has been hosted annually by the
Philolexian Society
The Philolexian Society of Columbia University is one of the oldest college literary and debate societies in the United States, and the oldest student group at Columbia. Founded in 1802, the Society aims to "improve its members in Oratory, Compo ...
, a literary and debating group at
Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
, 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 (satirizing the
New York City Subway's "
Poetry in Motion" series) featuring some of the best verses of the last 20 years, as well as door-to-door readings in the dorms, usually performed by prospective new members ("phreshlings").
The event is named for "bad" poet (and Philolexian alumnus)
Joyce Kilmer
Alfred Joyce Kilmer (December 6, 1886 – July 30, 1918) was an American writer and poet mainly remembered for a short poem titled "Trees" (1913), which was published in the collection ''Trees and Other Poems'' in 1914. Though a prolific poet wh ...
. His most famous work, ''
Trees
In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are u ...
'', is read aloud by audience members at the contest's end. In 2012, the ''
Columbia Daily Spectator'' listed the Kilmer Bad Poetry Contest #1 among its "Best Columbia Arts Traditions".
The two top Kilmer laureates are Stephen Blair, Columbia College '11, who won the contest in 2008, 2012 and 2013; and Everett Patterson, Columbia College '06, who won in 2003 and 2005.
References
External links
WikiCU Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry ContestColumbia Spectator
Culture of Columbia University
Poetry awards
{{Poetry-award-stub