Poetry characterized by extreme economy of language, density of meaning, and compression of expression, where every word justifies its presence through essential contribution to the whole. This aesthetic ideal, championed by Imagist poets like Ezra Pound, differs from mere brevity by emphasizing concentrated significance rather than simple shortness. Compact composition requires careful selection and arrangement where nothing is extraneous, creating maximum impact through minimal means and demanding active reader engagement with densely packed meaning.

Imagist ideal of maximum meaning in minimum space. Every word must justify its presence. Compression differs from mere brevity by density of meaning. Pound's metro poem is classic example.