Simplicity in Poetry

[Lizzie]

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

In simple language:

She's pretty.  I like moons and I like her too.

Hmmmmm, I actually think that that poem makes a better case for simplicity than obscurity. The words are easily accessible and the metaphor (the night sky) is available in all its glory the world over. No matter how unsophisticated the person, they'd be familiar with the beauty of the stars and the night sky.

I didn't read the quote as saying that metaphor was bad or that form/rhyme scheme was too complex. I, of course, have the benefit of having the book, and she advocates reading as much poetry (of all cultures and ages) as possible.