Word usage in poetry

[milo]

As part of the modernist movement, one of the goals was to apply intention to poetry.  As a result, one of the "rules" was :

1. To use absolutely no word that does not contribute to the presentation.
   

"Use no superfluous word, no adjective which does not reveal something.
Don’t use such an expression as “dim lands of peace.” It dulls the image. It mixes an abstraction with the concrete. It comes from the writer’s not realizing that the natural object is always the adequate symbol."1

I think we talk a lot about word usage - many times, I will ask why did I use that word?  Was that the best word?  Could I eliminate the word?

What are your thoughts about this, could you defend every word you use in a poem?  Could you explain it to yourself or to others?

Thanks

1. A Retrospect - E. Pound