“Soft and Steady” – Tactile Poetry

Writing the Body

This week’s poem:

Soft and Steady

So strong, so free, so graceful.
The folds of skin are so lovely,
A map of desire drawn by time,
Soft ridges where moisture and warmth linger.

A breath, a whisper, a promise,
A lingering ache.
Fingers, deliberate, knowing,
Trace unseen patterns,
Each touch igniting, each pause unbearable.

A storm and its calm,
A fire and the ember that remains,
Not just a lover, but a refuge,
Where loneliness comes,
And then it goes.

My Assessment: This is more sensual than most of my work, focusing on physical texture and sensation.

What I Think Works:

• “Map of desire drawn by time” feels original

• Tactile imagery is specific and evocative

• “Not just a lover, but a refuge” elevates the physical to emotional

• Good progression from touch to meaning

What I’m Uncertain About:

• Is “folds of skin” too graphic or beautifully honest?

• “Storm and its calm” might be another cliché

• Does the ending earn the build-up?

Technical Elements:

• Mix of short and long lines creates rhythm

• Strong sensory focus

• Good balance of concrete and metaphorical

What I’m Learning: Writing about the body requires specificity without becoming clinical or crude.

Questions for Readers:

• Does the physical imagery work poetically?

• Which lines feel most/least effective?

• How do you write about bodies without being either crude or euphemistic?

• Is the emotional payoff sufficient?