Simplicity in Poetry

[milo]

It isn't that I don't understand it's that I will always try to make the poem the best I can which sometimes causes these discrepancies. For me, it is all about the poem.

Well, whatever you're doing is working, so I say keep doing it. For me, I'm not satisfied with my work unless it makes a connection. That's just what I find compelling about writing. I have to believe on some level that you see the value of this yourself, since your work is quite good. I've never forgotten your poem Hide & Seek and how it leveled me when I read it. So, I know that you understand the necessity of grabbing the reader and hugging them tight.

I'm not going to write shit just so that it will sell. I'm not about to run out and write the next "Twilight." I agree with C that the word "pander" feels like you mean selling out.

I think this entire discussion is a quibble about language.
When Milo says 'write for yourself' he's targeting that advice at someone who already has an appreciation for poetry. For a complete novice, the exact opposite advice holds - he should never write for himself, because he won't be able to tell good from bad.
But if you have the basics in place, you should NOT write for others because:
1) 'Others' is not a monolithic segment. In trying to write something that everyone likes, you'll end up writing something that no one likes. 
2) It is fair to assume that your tastes are not unique. Therefore, there'll always be a segment that likes what you like, content-wise and style-wise.
3) If you try to write for a segment that you don't belong to, you'll fail. That's because you can't empathise with the jerks. The same way that if you're a particle physicist, you can't really form a lasting friendship with a young earth creationist, or if you're an orchid you can't mate with a beagle. Don't bring up Shakespeare, because let's face it, if someone tried to write a play with Elizabethan puns today, they'd get beaten to death. Tastes have evolved. Shakespeare's mates knew nothing about calculus.
4) If you're writing for yourself and you are totally happy with what you have written, feedback is a waste of time. However, people who are totally happy with what they have written are generally crap writers (defined as 'it's easy to write like them'). Given that we're already talking about someone who's writing above the level of complete novice, you will be totally unhappy with what you've written most of the time. Feedback helps then. However, even then it doesn't mean that what everyone says has value - some feedback will be plain bad, while some will be the opinion of someone who has different tastes. You are then free to pick and choose what you like...to make the poem according to what you like.

Actually, I never say write for yourself as it isn't really something I believe in. I say write to create a poem - just for the poem and not for anyone else. I write every poem as if it is the only thing I will ever write. When I am finished I am certain I will never write again. And who knows, one of these times it will probably be true.