The Imagist poetic principles laid down by Pound and Flint in 1912 can be summarized as follows:
Direct treatment of the subject: Imagist poets aimed to present their subjects directly and vividly, avoiding excessive use of abstraction or sentimentality.
Use of precise language: Poets were encouraged to choose words carefully, focusing on exact and concrete imagery rather than vague or abstract language.
Economy of language: Imagist poetry emphasized brevity and conciseness. Poets strove to convey their message using the fewest possible words.
Free verse: Imagists favored free verse, which allowed for greater flexibility in the arrangement of lines and rhythms, freeing poetry from traditional forms and meters.
Use of the image: The central concept of Imagism was the use of "the image" as a means of conveying meaning. Poets sought to create powerful, evocative images that could express complex emotions and ideas.
These principles aimed to revolutionize poetic expression and bring a new level of clarity and intensity to verse.