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Tactile poem

Genre
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Poetry crafted to be read by touch, often using embossed text or Braille, prioritizing physical accessibility and sensory engagement.

Detailed Definition
A tactile poem emphasizes physical interaction, either through its material form (e.g., textured paper, braille, or sculptural elements) or through language that foregrounds touch, inviting the reader to engage sensorially beyond the visual or auditory, often challenging conventional reading practices.
Example
Example in poetry:
Tactile poem by Pablo Neruda: “Ode to My Socks” revels in woolly texture; In Lucille Clifton: “the rough hands of my father” – tactile memory; Tactile poem in Ocean Vuong: “your stubble against my palm”; Contemporary: “Braille of rain on skin” – poetry emphasizing touch over sight
Additional Notes
Tactile poem: A poem designed to be felt as much as read—through texture, spacing, or material form; overlaps with concrete and performance poetry; may involve braille or embossing.
Also Known As
Touch poem Tactile verse Texture poetry Physical-sensation poem
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