Like music and art, poetry not guided by faith captivates the heart and desensitizes us to the revelation of Allah - the Qur'an. If poetry is based on faith it is acceptable, but if it is not it becomes idleness and rot to our minds. Prophet Muhammad said, "The most truthful word ever spoken by an Arab poet is the saying of Labid: 'Everything besides Allah is in vain.'" (Sahih Muslim)