Simplicity in Poetry

[Lizzie]

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.

This is why we should abolish language.
When you say 'write for the poem' I presume you mean 'write for what you think the poem should sound like without worrying about whether others will like it.' In other words, write to create something that is beautiful by your standards. That is what I mean by 'write for yourself'.
There are 3 options: 1) write something that you think others will like, read, and thank you for 2) write something that is so inscrutable that it appeals only to you; and 3) write something that you find beautiful. We're both suggesting option 3 I think.

Milo, perhaps speak to us in metaphor or simile -- there's too much tell going on here and not enough show.

As a visual/kinesthetic learner, I'm actually dead serious. Some images would help me

And, we've already established (in a juicy twist in this conversation on poetry) that words are no more use here.

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Weeded, you should read Cormac McCarthy, and watch The Sunset Limited and The Counselor. The Counselor if only for the last scene which reminds you who wrote the thing. You could watch Child of God if you prefer less talking and more violence.                             --                                       I don't know an audience. They don't come to my house and shake my hand, they don't go to the movies with me. I don't read the literary journals, but what complexity I've seen in recent poetry is something anybody can learn in college, overhear on the street or look up online. In other words, worthlessness. And the people who write and edit that stuff are boring people with no personalities. I assume the poetry audience is mostly that way too, so I assume I wouldn't like them.

I just checked out the book "Beautiful & Pointless: A Guide to Modern Poetry." It's by David Orr. I wonder if he has a similar beef with modern poetry.