Bad, quirky poetry might be better than some of the good stuff, because it really comes from the heart.

Hines contrasts technical polish with emotional authenticity, suggesting that art’s value is not exhausted by craft or critical standards. “Bad, quirky poetry” stands for work that may be awkward, untrained, or idiosyncratic, yet carries unmistakable sincerity; “some of the good stuff” implies writing that meets conventional measures of quality but can feel calculated or emotionally distant. The remark affirms a romantic, expressive view of art: that the reader’s sense of a speaker’s genuine feeling can outweigh formal excellence. It also implicitly defends amateur creativity and personal voice, arguing that vulnerability and honest impulse can produce a more affecting experience than virtuosity alone.