diff --git a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/index.ts b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/index.ts
index 97db25cd6..d7d5aa1ae 100644
--- a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/index.ts
+++ b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/index.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import HiddenInput from './words-hidden-input.svelte';
 import Status from './words-status.svelte';
 import FindReplace from './words-find-replace.svelte';
 import Drawer from './words-drawer.svelte';
+import ImageFloatBar from './words-image-float-bar.svelte';
 
 type WordsNamespace = typeof WordsComponent & {
 	Content: typeof Content;
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ type WordsNamespace = typeof WordsComponent & {
 	Status: typeof Status;
 	FindReplace: typeof FindReplace;
 	Drawer: typeof Drawer;
+	ImageFloatBar: typeof ImageFloatBar;
 };
 
 const Words = WordsComponent as WordsNamespace;
@@ -49,6 +51,7 @@ Words.HiddenInput = HiddenInput;
 Words.Status = Status;
 Words.FindReplace = FindReplace;
 Words.Drawer = Drawer;
+Words.ImageFloatBar = ImageFloatBar;
 
 export { Words };
 export default Words;
diff --git a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words-image-float-bar.svelte b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words-image-float-bar.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2fe203339
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words-image-float-bar.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,173 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	/**
+	 * Words.ImageFloatBar — quick-action toolbar that hovers above
+	 * the currently-selected image block.
+	 *
+	 * Visible only when `snippet.selectedBlockIndex` points to an
+	 * image. Positioned via `getBoundingClientRect` on the figure;
+	 * keeps in sync with scroll/resize via $effect listeners.
+	 *
+	 * SPIKE: eidos-only (no morfo/soma part). If the concept holds
+	 * we refactor canon (same path the drawer took: morfo Drawer →
+	 * WordsDrawerProvider → eidos consumer).
+	 *
+	 * Quick actions live here so the user doesn't have to expand the
+	 * Image panel of the drawer for the 5 most common ops:
+	 *   - align left / center / right
+	 *   - clear selection (× — clears selectedBlockIndex, drops focus)
+	 *   - delete image
+	 *
+	 * Caption / alt / replace src remain in the drawer (POLISH-2).
+	 */
+	import {
+		TextAlignStart as AlignLeft,
+		TextAlignCenter as AlignCenter,
+		TextAlignEnd as AlignRight,
+		Trash,
+		X
+	} from '$uix/eidos/components/icon';
+	import type { ProviderSnippetProps } from '$soma/components/words';
+
+	let { snippet }: { snippet: ProviderSnippetProps } = $props();
+
+	let position = $state<{ top: number; left: number; width: number } | null>(null);
+
+	const targetFigure = $derived.by(() => {
+		if (snippet.selectedBlockIndex === undefined) return null;
+		if (typeof document === 'undefined') return null;
+		return document.querySelector<HTMLElement>(
+			`figure[data-words-path="${snippet.selectedBlockIndex}"]`
+		);
+	});
+
+	function measure() {
+		if (!targetFigure) {
+			position = null;
+			return;
+		}
+		const r = targetFigure.getBoundingClientRect();
+		// position: fixed → coords are viewport-relative, no scroll
+		// offsets to add. Bar floats 8px above the figure's top edge.
+		position = {
+			top: r.top - 44,
+			left: r.left + r.width / 2,
+			width: r.width
+		};
+	}
+
+	$effect(() => {
+		// Re-run on every targetFigure change.
+		void targetFigure;
+		measure();
+		if (!targetFigure) return;
+		const win = targetFigure.ownerDocument.defaultView;
+		if (!win) return;
+		const opts: AddEventListenerOptions = { passive: true };
+		win.addEventListener('scroll', measure, opts);
+		win.addEventListener('resize', measure, opts);
+		const ro = new ResizeObserver(measure);
+		ro.observe(targetFigure);
+		return () => {
+			win.removeEventListener('scroll', measure, opts);
+			win.removeEventListener('resize', measure, opts);
+			ro.disconnect();
+		};
+	});
+
+	const imageBlock = $derived.by(() => {
+		const idx = snippet.selectedBlockIndex;
+		if (idx === undefined) return null;
+		const block = snippet.document.children[idx];
+		if (!block || block.type !== 'image') return null;
+		return block;
+	});
+
+	const currentAlign = $derived(imageBlock?.align ?? 'center');
+
+	function setAlign(align: 'left' | 'center' | 'right') {
+		const idx = snippet.selectedBlockIndex;
+		if (idx === undefined) return;
+		snippet.applyCommand({
+			type: 'updateBlock',
+			blockIndex: idx,
+			patch: align === 'center' ? { align: undefined } : { align }
+		});
+	}
+
+	function deleteImage() {
+		const idx = snippet.selectedBlockIndex;
+		if (idx === undefined) return;
+		snippet.applyCommand({ type: 'deleteBlock', blockIndex: idx });
+		snippet.clearSelectedBlock();
+	}
+
+	function dismiss() {
+		snippet.clearSelectedBlock();
+	}
+</script>
+
+{#if position}
+	<div
+		data-words-image-float-bar
+		style="top: {position.top}px; left: {position.left}px;"
+		role="toolbar"
+		aria-label="Image quick actions"
+	>
+		<button
+			type="button"
+			data-words-image-float-action
+			data-active={currentAlign === 'left' ? '' : undefined}
+			title="Align left"
+			aria-label="Align left"
+			onmousedown={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
+			onclick={() => setAlign('left')}
+		>
+			<AlignLeft size="sm" decorative />
+		</button>
+		<button
+			type="button"
+			data-words-image-float-action
+			data-active={currentAlign === 'center' ? '' : undefined}
+			title="Align center"
+			aria-label="Align center"
+			onmousedown={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
+			onclick={() => setAlign('center')}
+		>
+			<AlignCenter size="sm" decorative />
+		</button>
+		<button
+			type="button"
+			data-words-image-float-action
+			data-active={currentAlign === 'right' ? '' : undefined}
+			title="Align right"
+			aria-label="Align right"
+			onmousedown={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
+			onclick={() => setAlign('right')}
+		>
+			<AlignRight size="sm" decorative />
+		</button>
+		<span data-words-image-float-divider aria-hidden="true"></span>
+		<button
+			type="button"
+			data-words-image-float-action
+			data-tone="risk"
+			title="Delete image"
+			aria-label="Delete image"
+			onmousedown={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
+			onclick={deleteImage}
+		>
+			<Trash size="sm" decorative />
+		</button>
+		<button
+			type="button"
+			data-words-image-float-action
+			data-tone="ghost"
+			title="Dismiss"
+			aria-label="Dismiss"
+			onmousedown={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
+			onclick={dismiss}
+		>
+			<X size="sm" decorative />
+		</button>
+	</div>
+{/if}
diff --git a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
index 85a913b21..41858b007 100644
--- a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
+++ b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
@@ -463,6 +463,64 @@
 	color: var(--words-threat-text);
 }
 
+/* Image float bar — floats above the selected image with quick
+   actions (align L/C/R, delete, dismiss). Positioned via inline
+   `top` / `left` set by the component from getBoundingClientRect. */
+[data-words-image-float-bar] {
+	position: fixed;
+	transform: translateX(-50%);
+	display: inline-flex;
+	align-items: center;
+	gap: 0.25rem;
+	padding: 0.3rem;
+	border-radius: var(--words-command-radius);
+	background: var(--words-toolbar-bg);
+	border: var(--words-border-width) solid var(--_words-accent-border);
+	box-shadow: var(--words-shadow);
+	z-index: var(--z-index-popover);
+	white-space: nowrap;
+}
+
+[data-words-image-float-action] {
+	display: inline-flex;
+	align-items: center;
+	justify-content: center;
+	inline-size: 1.75rem;
+	block-size: 1.75rem;
+	padding: 0;
+	border: 0;
+	border-radius: var(--words-command-radius);
+	background: transparent;
+	color: var(--words-command-color);
+	cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+[data-words-image-float-action]:hover {
+	background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--_words-accent-solid) 12%, transparent);
+	color: var(--_words-accent-text);
+}
+
+[data-words-image-float-action][data-active] {
+	background: var(--_words-accent-solid);
+	color: var(--_words-accent-on);
+}
+
+[data-words-image-float-action][data-tone='risk']:hover {
+	background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--words-threat-text) 15%, transparent);
+	color: var(--words-threat-text);
+}
+
+[data-words-image-float-action][data-tone='ghost'] {
+	color: var(--words-status-color);
+}
+
+[data-words-image-float-divider] {
+	inline-size: 1px;
+	block-size: 1.25rem;
+	background: var(--words-toolbar-border);
+	margin-inline: 0.15rem;
+}
+
 [data-words-drawer-section-title] {
 	display: flex;
 	align-items: baseline;
diff --git a/src/uix/soma/components/words/engine/commands.ts b/src/uix/soma/components/words/engine/commands.ts
index f290b4e15..f750135d7 100644
--- a/src/uix/soma/components/words/engine/commands.ts
+++ b/src/uix/soma/components/words/engine/commands.ts
@@ -28,10 +28,12 @@ import {
 	insertLink,
 	insertLineBreak,
 	insertParagraph,
+	deleteBlockAt,
 	insertImage,
 	insertTable,
 	insertTableColumn,
 	insertTableRow,
+	updateBlockAt,
 	insertText,
 	moveTableCell,
 	outdentCodeLine,
@@ -102,6 +104,21 @@ export type WordsCommand =
 			align?: WordsImageAlign;
 			status?: WordsImageStatus;
 	  }
+	/**
+	 * Patch a block in place. Generic enough to update any block-level
+	 * field (image alt/caption/align/width, table striped/compact,
+	 * heading level, etc.) without adding a dedicated command per
+	 * attribute. The reducer shallow-merges patch into the block and
+	 * runs normalizeDocument.
+	 */
+	| {
+			type: 'updateBlock';
+			blockIndex: number;
+			patch: Readonly<Record<string, unknown>>;
+	  }
+	/** Remove a block by index. Used by the image float bar delete
+	 *  action and any future block-action menus. */
+	| { type: 'deleteBlock'; blockIndex: number }
 	| { type: 'insertTableRow'; position?: 'before' | 'after' }
 	| { type: 'insertTableColumn'; position?: 'before' | 'after' }
 	| { type: 'deleteTableRow' }
@@ -154,6 +171,10 @@ export function applyWordsCommand(
 				align: command.align,
 				status: command.status
 			});
+		case 'updateBlock':
+			return updateBlockAt(state, command.blockIndex, command.patch);
+		case 'deleteBlock':
+			return deleteBlockAt(state, command.blockIndex);
 		case 'insertTableRow':
 			return insertTableRow(state, { position: command.position });
 		case 'insertTableColumn':
diff --git a/src/uix/soma/components/words/engine/operations.ts b/src/uix/soma/components/words/engine/operations.ts
index b762f93fe..5357911f1 100644
--- a/src/uix/soma/components/words/engine/operations.ts
+++ b/src/uix/soma/components/words/engine/operations.ts
@@ -773,6 +773,70 @@ export function toggleList(state: WordsEditorState, kind: WordsListKind): WordsO
 	};
 }
 
+/**
+ * Patch a block in place. Shallow-merge `patch` into the block at
+ * `blockIndex` and run normalization. Returns the unchanged state if
+ * the block doesn't exist or the patch is a no-op.
+ */
+export function updateBlockAt(
+	state: WordsEditorState,
+	blockIndex: number,
+	patch: Readonly<Record<string, unknown>>
+): WordsOperationResult {
+	const block = state.document.children[blockIndex];
+	if (!block) return { state, changed: false };
+	const nextBlock = { ...block, ...patch } as WordsBlock;
+	const blockAsRecord = block as unknown as Record<string, unknown>;
+	if (Object.entries(patch).every(([key, value]) => blockAsRecord[key] === value)) {
+		return { state, changed: false };
+	}
+	const normalized = normalizeDocument({
+		...state.document,
+		children: replaceAt(state.document.children, blockIndex, nextBlock)
+	}).document;
+	const selection = state.selection ? clampSelection(normalized, state.selection) : null;
+	return {
+		state: {
+			document: normalized,
+			selection,
+			activeMarks: selection
+				? getActiveMarksForSelection(normalized, selection)
+				: []
+		},
+		changed: true
+	};
+}
+
+/**
+ * Remove the block at `blockIndex`. If the doc would be empty,
+ * leaves an empty paragraph behind so the editor still has something
+ * to write into.
+ */
+export function deleteBlockAt(
+	state: WordsEditorState,
+	blockIndex: number
+): WordsOperationResult {
+	if (blockIndex < 0 || blockIndex >= state.document.children.length) {
+		return { state, changed: false };
+	}
+	const nextChildren = state.document.children.filter((_, i) => i !== blockIndex);
+	const normalized = normalizeDocument({
+		...state.document,
+		children: nextChildren.length ? nextChildren : [createParagraph()]
+	}).document;
+	const target = Math.min(blockIndex, normalized.children.length - 1);
+	const point = pointFromInlineTextOffset(normalized, [target], 0);
+	const selection = createCollapsedSelection(point.path, point.offset);
+	return {
+		state: {
+			document: normalized,
+			selection,
+			activeMarks: getActiveMarksForSelection(normalized, selection)
+		},
+		changed: true
+	};
+}
+
 export function insertImage(
 	state: WordsEditorState,
 	options: {
diff --git a/src/uix/soma/components/words/words-provider.svelte.ts b/src/uix/soma/components/words/words-provider.svelte.ts
index 615c95b3d..b1c5a96a1 100644
--- a/src/uix/soma/components/words/words-provider.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/uix/soma/components/words/words-provider.svelte.ts
@@ -1193,6 +1193,7 @@ export class WordsProvider {
 		selectAtomicBlock: (blockIndex: number) => this.selectAtomicBlock(blockIndex),
 		clearSelectedBlock: () => this.clearSelectedBlock(),
 		runCommand: (command: WordsCommandName) => this.runCommandName(command),
+		applyCommand: (command: WordsCommand) => this.applyCommand(command),
 		setCodeLanguage: (language?: string) => this.setCodeLanguage(language),
 		insertLink: (href: string, title?: string) => this.insertLink(href, title),
 		unlink: () => this.unlink(),
diff --git a/web/routes/uix/components/words/+page.svelte b/web/routes/uix/components/words/+page.svelte
index d0c14e145..ae050b0b0 100644
--- a/web/routes/uix/components/words/+page.svelte
+++ b/web/routes/uix/components/words/+page.svelte
@@ -730,6 +730,7 @@
 		return renderWordsPlainText(document);
 	}
 
+	// readPlainText handles image (no .children) — POLISH-1a
 	function readPlainText(document: WordsDocument): string {
 		return document.children
 			.map((block) => {
@@ -1076,6 +1077,7 @@
 					{#if showDrawer}
 						<Words.Drawer />
 					{/if}
+					<Words.ImageFloatBar snippet={snippetProps} />
 					{#if showStatus}
 						<Words.Status>
 							{#if invalid}