Good topic, John.
As a writer of (mainly) light verse myself, I agree with you and old A.A.
Problems arise when 'Light', in some people's minds anyway, equates to 'trivial' or 'meaningless'. (I'm guessing that's why Wendy Cope objects to being called a writer of light verse.)
Lots of people have intimated to me that it must be dead easy to knock out a humorous poem in seconds. They're mistaken; it needs as much care and precision as any serious poem.
Here I must mention two of my pet hates: When people say, of a funny poem (even some
writers, not just readers), that
'Of course it's only verse, not real poetry'. Whoever said that 'proper' poetry can't be amusing?
And the other thing that gets my goat is when light/funny/humorous poems, call 'em what you will, are
automatically referred to as 'doggerel'. Some
are, but the terms are not synonymous.
I could go on... but I won't
Jayne