Enclose my hand with yours
like a glove of velvet or wool
that swallows my hand whole.
Caress my tingling fingers
with the fabric of your soul,
whether rough or smooth.
Let me slip into every finger-hole,
feel the warmth
and comfort of weft and warp.
Enclose my hand with yours.
Kim M. Russell, 2016
Detail from Man with a Glove by Titian ca 1520
Originally written for and published by Visual Verse, I have resurrected it for @TopTweetTuesday and host Helen Openshaw @Pocket_rhyme with our theme ‘Love and its Vicissitudes’.
Sadly, Visual Verse is no longer accessible on the Internet and its archive has been taken over by the University of Newcastle, so I have not been able to use the original image, which is probably copyrighted anyway. At the moment, all that exists is a holding page, which promises access to the huge anthology of ekphrastic poetry at a later date.
Also linked to Sanaa’s Poetics at the dVerse Poets Pub on 17th February 2026.
writing in north norfolk 
I’m so taken with your clever use of a glove as a metaphor, Kim, a passionate expression of deep desire and love! ❤️
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Thank you, Dora, I’m delighted it has hit the spot!
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I love the way you used the Glove which also made for a very clever title… it works in so many ways
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Oh, this is gorgeous, gorgeous writing, Kim! 😍 I love the use of glove as a metaphor here and the image “Caress my tingling fingers with the fabric of your soul.”
Thank you so much for writing to the prompt ❤️❤️
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Just lovely Kim and I love your title- the glove as a metaphor is perfect – one thing that’s so close to our skin and fingertips ♥️
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Beautiful!!! full of tantalizing lines
much love
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