Somewhere Safe to Sea

A poem is like a glass of wine—bad if you don't like it, and good if you do. But there are more objective ways to decide a poem is good or bad.
Bad poetry is merely a container for the poet's thoughts and feelings. The result is an awkward, annoying, enigmatic and confusing poem that makes you feel as if you are listening to a child pounding the keys on a piano or working a crossword puzzle without the clues.
Good poetry is a vehicle for your thoughts and feelings because the poet deliberately crafted the poem to take you beyond what it means to how it engages your thoughts and feelings. The result is a poem that gives you something you were seeking and the poet has found.