There's nothing worse than verse destitute of pith. Pith is more important to our universe than aether, moxie, or spunk. Every time I hear a pithy argument, or a pithy saying, I am impressed at the power of pith. It is a travesty when otherwise good prose finds itself pithless, especially when the author attempts to make up for pith with inferior ingredients, e.g. wit, alliteration, or rhyme.
In fact, I could use some pith right now...

Pith"less, a.

Destitute of pith, or of strength; feeble.

Dryden. "Pithless argumentation." Glandstone.

 

© Webster 1913.