Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest

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The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Bad Poetry Contest has been hosted by Columbia University's Philolexian Society, a literary 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 (satirizing the New York City Subway's "Poetry in Motion" series) 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.