John,
I was raised on such things, quite literally. My father delighted in quoting them when I was small, and I still know them by heart:
"Little Willie on his bike
Through the village took a hike.
Mrs. Thompson blocked the walk;
She will live, but still can't talk."
That said, it seems as soon as one uses the term the battle is already lost. When people want to demean something, they call it verse. Look how people use the term 'free verse,' as if it denoted a bunch of recently liberated worms, crawling around...
I've also heard people call other poets 'versifiers.' Mostly after a drink or two...
There must be another name. Imagine walking up to Martial and saying "I really liked your Light Verse!" One would be lucky to survive...
Thanks,
Bill