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Once a poet
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Looking to the Light Once a poet I wanted to be
but a critic they made of me
pretentious I do think of them
writing for art and not to read
people are not who they write for
for they do find them a bore
only best of poets may read
of their works and be pleased
much too good their writing for me
such a poet I never will be
my words are too simple
my lines are too clear
anyone my meaning can see
So a such poet I cannot be
but I won't let that stop me
I found the title intriging,
I found the title intriging, hence my visit and my comment. I think the division "either/or" here is a bit over the top. One can write for art as well as for readers. Are you familiar with Dante? He wrote the Divine Comedy in Italian rather than Latin (thus making it accessible to any readers of that time and pplace; and heard it recited by shoemakers during one of his journeys), but he filled it full of references and allusions which would require some knowledge of the art of poetry and literature. And, if the Argentine poet Borges' interpretation is correct, Dante raised up the entire structure of the Comedy simply to imagine and, in imagination experience once more, a meeting with Beatrice (who has been called the "most famous girl friend in literature")---and that motive goes beyond mere art right to the heart and soul of emotion. When I was first directed (by a beautiful poet whose miniskirt and black tights still resonate in my memory, all the way from October 1978) to read Wallace Stevens' poetry, she told me "he makes you work, but he pays you back for the effort." A good or successful poem should both entertain the reader and make the reader think a bit, perhaps even think hard. The Comedy, Stevens' stuff, and the work of other poets here on postpoems demonstrate that it need not be either for readers or for art, but for both. That position can be reached and accomplished, provided sour grapes do not get in the way. Forgive me for being so verbose here---but this comment is offered in good faith because the intensity of your poem inspired, and even demands, such a response.
Starward