diff --git a/internal/tui/help.go b/internal/tui/help.go
index 35cdda0..1aea60c 100644
--- a/internal/tui/help.go
+++ b/internal/tui/help.go
@@ -7,21 +7,31 @@ func renderHelp(width, height int) string {
 		title string
 		binds [][2]string
 	}{
+		{"Focus", [][2]string{
+			{"tab", "cycle focus: capture → list → detail"},
+			{"esc", "back / clear filter / to capture"},
+			{"a", "focus capture bar"},
+		}},
+		{"Capture Bar", [][2]string{
+			{"enter", "submit (or browse if empty)"},
+			{"?…", "search (type ?query)"},
+			{"-", "todo prefix"},
+			{"@", "event prefix"},
+			{"!", "reminder prefix"},
+		}},
 		{"Navigation", [][2]string{
 			{"j/k ↑/↓", "move cursor"},
 			{"g/G home/end", "top / bottom"},
 			{"pgup/pgdn", "page up / down"},
 			{"enter", "view detail"},
-			{"esc", "back / clear filter"},
 		}},
 		{"Views", [][2]string{
 			{"1", "stream view"},
 			{"2", "cards view"},
 			{"s", "cycle sort (cards)"},
-			{"tab", "cycle intent (cards)"},
+			{"i", "cycle intent (cards)"},
 		}},
 		{"Actions", [][2]string{
-			{"a", "add entity (or ?query to search)"},
 			{"d", "delete (with confirm)"},
 			{"x", "toggle todo completion"},
 			{"!", "toggle pin"},
diff --git a/internal/tui/input.go b/internal/tui/input.go
index 5e38948..c8e6abd 100644
--- a/internal/tui/input.go
+++ b/internal/tui/input.go
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ type inputResult struct {
 
 type inputModel struct {
 	ti      textinput.Model
-	active  bool
 	preview *parse.Result
 }
 
@@ -31,15 +30,8 @@ func newInputModel() inputModel {
 	return inputModel{ti: ti}
 }
 
-func (i *inputModel) focus() {
-	i.active = true
-	i.ti.Focus()
-}
-
-func (i *inputModel) reset() {
-	i.active = false
+func (i *inputModel) clearText() {
 	i.ti.SetValue("")
-	i.ti.Blur()
 	i.preview = nil
 }
 
@@ -101,33 +93,21 @@ func (i inputModel) updateKey(msg tea.KeyMsg) inputModel {
 	return i
 }
 
-func (i inputModel) view(width int) string {
-	var b strings.Builder
-	label := "capture"
-	prefix := "── "
-	suffix := " "
-	dashCount := width - len(prefix) - len(label) - len(suffix)
-	if dashCount < 0 {
-		dashCount = 0
+func (i inputModel) viewBar(width int, focused bool) string {
+	tiView := i.ti.View()
+	if focused {
+		return tiView
 	}
-	b.WriteString(drawerBorderStyle.Render(prefix) +
-		hintDescStyle.Render(label) +
-		drawerBorderStyle.Render(suffix+strings.Repeat("─", dashCount)))
-	b.WriteString("\n")
-	b.WriteString(i.ti.View())
-	b.WriteString("\n")
-	b.WriteString(drawerHintsStyle.Render(renderHints([]hint{
-		{"enter", "submit"}, {"esc", "cancel"}, {"?", "search"},
-		{"-", "todo"}, {"@", "event"}, {"!", "reminder"},
-	})))
-	b.WriteString("\n")
-	b.WriteString(i.renderPreview(width))
-	return b.String()
+	val := i.ti.Value()
+	if val != "" {
+		return hintDescStyle.Render("› " + val)
+	}
+	return hintDescStyle.Render("› capture a thought…")
 }
 
-func (i inputModel) renderPreview(width int) string {
+func (i inputModel) previewText() string {
 	if i.preview == nil {
-		return drawerPreviewStyle.Render("")
+		return ""
 	}
 
 	p := i.preview
@@ -140,7 +120,7 @@ func (i inputModel) renderPreview(width int) string {
 		for _, t := range p.FilterTags {
 			q += " #" + t
 		}
-		return drawerPreviewStyle.Render("search: " + q)
+		return "search: " + q
 	}
 
 	glyph := glyphForParsed(p.Glyph)
@@ -152,22 +132,16 @@ func (i inputModel) renderPreview(width int) string {
 	var parts []string
 	parts = append(parts, glyph, body)
 	for _, t := range p.Tags {
-		parts = append(parts, tagStyle.Render("#"+t))
+		parts = append(parts, "#"+t)
 	}
 	if p.Pin {
-		parts = append(parts, pinnedStyle.Render("•"))
+		parts = append(parts, "•")
 	}
 	if p.CardSuffix != nil {
-		parts = append(parts, affordanceStyle.Render(*p.CardSuffix))
+		parts = append(parts, *p.CardSuffix)
 	}
 
-	line := strings.Join(parts, " ")
-	maxW := width - 4
-	if maxW > 0 && len(stripAnsi(line)) > maxW {
-		line = truncate(line, maxW)
-	}
-
-	return drawerPreviewStyle.Render(line)
+	return strings.Join(parts, " ")
 }
 
 func glyphForParsed(glyph string) string {
@@ -182,7 +156,3 @@ func glyphForParsed(glyph string) string {
 		return "—"
 	}
 }
-
-func drawerLines() int {
-	return 3
-}
diff --git a/internal/tui/keys.go b/internal/tui/keys.go
index 1bb1a31..3f215fb 100644
--- a/internal/tui/keys.go
+++ b/internal/tui/keys.go
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ type keyMap struct {
 	Down       key.Binding
 	Enter      key.Binding
 	Back       key.Binding
-	Add        key.Binding
+	Capture    key.Binding
 	Delete     key.Binding
 	Quit       key.Binding
 	Help       key.Binding
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ type keyMap struct {
 	Fill       key.Binding
 	FocusLeft  key.Binding
 	FocusRight key.Binding
+	Tab        key.Binding
 }
 
 var keys = keyMap{
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ var keys = keyMap{
 	Down:       key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("down", "j"), key.WithHelp("↓/j", "down")),
 	Enter:      key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("enter"), key.WithHelp("enter", "view")),
 	Back:       key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("esc"), key.WithHelp("esc", "back")),
-	Add:        key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("a"), key.WithHelp("a", "add")),
+	Capture:    key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("a"), key.WithHelp("a", "capture")),
 	Delete:     key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("d"), key.WithHelp("d", "delete")),
 	Quit:       key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("q", "ctrl+c"), key.WithHelp("q", "quit")),
 	Help:       key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("?"), key.WithHelp("?", "help")),
@@ -56,10 +57,11 @@ var keys = keyMap{
 	Stream:     key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("1"), key.WithHelp("1", "stream")),
 	Cards:      key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("2"), key.WithHelp("2", "cards")),
 	Sort:       key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("s"), key.WithHelp("s", "sort")),
-	Intent:     key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("tab"), key.WithHelp("tab", "intent")),
+	Intent:     key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("i"), key.WithHelp("i", "intent")),
 	Absorb:     key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("m"), key.WithHelp("m", "absorb")),
 	Run:        key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("r"), key.WithHelp("r", "run checklist")),
 	Fill:       key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("f"), key.WithHelp("f", "fill template")),
 	FocusLeft:  key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("h"), key.WithHelp("h", "focus list")),
 	FocusRight: key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("l"), key.WithHelp("l", "focus detail")),
+	Tab:        key.NewBinding(key.WithKeys("tab"), key.WithHelp("tab", "focus cycle")),
 }
diff --git a/internal/tui/model.go b/internal/tui/model.go
index 18c2bb5..f1c816c 100644
--- a/internal/tui/model.go
+++ b/internal/tui/model.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ type viewState int
 const (
 	stateList viewState = iota
 	stateDetail
-	stateInput
 	stateTagFilter
 	stateConfirm
 	statePromote
@@ -65,7 +64,8 @@ func (s cardsSort) next() cardsSort {
 type focusPane int
 
 const (
-	focusList focusPane = iota
+	focusCapture focusPane = iota
+	focusList
 	focusDetail
 )
 
@@ -100,18 +100,30 @@ type model struct {
 }
 
 func newModel(store *db.Store) model {
+	inp := newInputModel()
+	inp.ti.Focus()
 	return model{
 		store:  store,
 		state:  stateList,
 		mode:   modeStream,
+		focus:  focusCapture,
 		list:   newListModel(),
 		cards:  newCardsModel(),
 		detail: newDetailModel(),
-		input:  newInputModel(),
+		input:  inp,
 		filter: newFilterModel(),
 	}
 }
 
+func (m *model) setFocus(f focusPane) tea.Cmd {
+	m.focus = f
+	if f == focusCapture {
+		return m.input.ti.Focus()
+	}
+	m.input.ti.Blur()
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (m *model) setStatus(msg string) tea.Cmd {
 	m.statusSeq++
 	m.status = msg
@@ -119,7 +131,7 @@ func (m *model) setStatus(msg string) tea.Cmd {
 }
 
 func (m model) Init() tea.Cmd {
-	return loadEntities(m.store, m.listParams())
+	return tea.Batch(loadEntities(m.store, m.listParams()), m.input.ti.Focus())
 }
 
 func (m model) listParams() db.ListParams {
@@ -192,9 +204,7 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		return m, nil
 
 	case entityCreatedMsg:
-		m.state = stateList
-		m.input.reset()
-		m.recalcSizes()
+		m.input.clearText()
 		return m, tea.Batch(loadEntities(m.store, m.listParams()), m.setStatus("created"))
 
 	case entityDeletedMsg:
@@ -268,8 +278,6 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	case tea.KeyMsg:
 		m.err = nil
 		switch m.state {
-		case stateInput:
-			return m.updateInput(msg)
 		case stateTagFilter:
 			return m.updateTagFilter(msg)
 		case stateConfirm:
@@ -281,6 +289,13 @@ func (m model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		default:
 			return m.updateKeys(msg)
 		}
+
+	default:
+		if m.focus == focusCapture {
+			var cmd tea.Cmd
+			m.input.ti, cmd = m.input.ti.Update(msg)
+			return m, cmd
+		}
 	}
 
 	return m, nil
@@ -294,8 +309,58 @@ func (m model) updateKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		return m, nil
 	}
 
+	if msg.String() == "ctrl+c" {
+		return m, tea.Quit
+	}
+
+	if m.focus == focusCapture {
+		return m.updateCapture(msg)
+	}
+	return m.updateBrowse(msg)
+}
+
+func (m model) updateCapture(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
+	switch msg.String() {
+	case "enter":
+		val := m.input.ti.Value()
+		if val == "" {
+			cmd := m.setFocus(focusList)
+			return m, cmd
+		}
+		result := m.input.submit()
+		if result == nil {
+			return m, nil
+		}
+		if result.query {
+			m.searchQuery = result.body
+			m.searchTags = result.tags
+			m.input.clearText()
+			m.applySearch()
+			cmd := m.setFocus(focusList)
+			return m, cmd
+		}
+		if result.entity != nil {
+			return m, createEntity(m.store, result.entity)
+		}
+		return m, nil
+	case "esc", "tab":
+		cmd := m.setFocus(focusList)
+		return m, cmd
+	}
+	m.input = m.input.updateKey(msg)
+	return m, nil
+}
+
+func (m model) updateBrowse(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	if m.splitDetail && m.state == stateList {
 		switch msg.String() {
+		case "tab":
+			if m.focus == focusList {
+				m.focus = focusDetail
+				return m, nil
+			}
+			cmd := m.setFocus(focusCapture)
+			return m, cmd
 		case "l":
 			if m.focus == focusList {
 				m.focus = focusDetail
@@ -311,9 +376,6 @@ func (m model) updateKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 				m.focus = focusList
 				return m, nil
 			}
-			m.splitDetail = false
-			m.recalcSizes()
-			return m, nil
 		}
 
 		if m.focus == focusDetail {
@@ -380,9 +442,6 @@ func (m model) updateKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	}
 
 	switch msg.String() {
-	case "ctrl+c":
-		return m, tea.Quit
-
 	case "q":
 		if m.state == stateList {
 			return m, tea.Quit
@@ -418,7 +477,7 @@ func (m model) updateKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 		return m, nil
 
-	case "tab":
+	case "i":
 		if m.mode == modeCards && m.state == stateList {
 			m.cards.setIntent(m.cards.intent.next())
 			if m.hasSearch() {
@@ -428,12 +487,14 @@ func (m model) updateKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 		return m, nil
 
+	case "tab":
+		cmd := m.setFocus(focusCapture)
+		return m, cmd
+
 	case "a":
 		if m.state == stateList {
-			m.state = stateInput
-			m.input.focus()
-			m.recalcSizes()
-			return m, m.input.ti.Focus()
+			cmd := m.setFocus(focusCapture)
+			return m, cmd
 		}
 
 	case "esc":
@@ -488,6 +549,10 @@ func (m model) updateKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			m.status = ""
 			return m, loadEntities(m.store, m.listParams())
 		}
+		if m.state == stateList {
+			cmd := m.setFocus(focusCapture)
+			return m, cmd
+		}
 		return m, nil
 
 	case "d":
@@ -630,37 +695,6 @@ func (m model) updateKeys(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	return m, nil
 }
 
-func (m model) updateInput(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
-	switch msg.String() {
-	case "esc":
-		m.state = stateList
-		m.input.reset()
-		m.recalcSizes()
-		return m, nil
-	case "enter":
-		result := m.input.submit()
-		if result == nil {
-			return m, nil
-		}
-		if result.query {
-			m.searchQuery = result.body
-			m.searchTags = result.tags
-			m.state = stateList
-			m.input.reset()
-			m.recalcSizes()
-			m.applySearch()
-			return m, nil
-		}
-		if result.entity != nil {
-			return m, createEntity(m.store, result.entity)
-		}
-		return m, nil
-	}
-
-	m.input = m.input.updateKey(msg)
-	return m, nil
-}
-
 func (m model) updateTagFilter(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	switch msg.String() {
 	case "esc", "q":
@@ -729,7 +763,7 @@ func (m model) View() string {
 
 	var content string
 	switch m.state {
-	case stateList, stateInput, stateConfirm:
+	case stateList, stateConfirm:
 		listContent := m.listContent()
 		if m.splitDetail {
 			lw, rw := m.splitWidths()
@@ -752,11 +786,12 @@ func (m model) View() string {
 	}
 
 	header := m.headerView()
-	footer := m.footerView()
+	captureBar := m.input.viewBar(m.width, m.focus == focusCapture)
+	statusLine := m.statusLine()
 
 	content = lipgloss.NewStyle().Width(m.width).Height(m.contentHeight()).Render(content)
 
-	return header + "\n" + content + "\n" + footer
+	return header + "\n" + content + "\n" + captureBar + "\n" + statusLine
 }
 
 func (m model) listContent() string {
@@ -806,11 +841,7 @@ func (m model) headerView() string {
 	return header
 }
 
-func (m model) footerView() string {
-	if m.state == stateInput {
-		return m.input.view(m.width)
-	}
-
+func (m model) statusLine() string {
 	if m.state == stateConfirm {
 		return renderConfirm(m.confirmID)
 	}
@@ -823,14 +854,7 @@ func (m model) footerView() string {
 }
 
 func (m model) contentHeight() int {
-	return m.height - 3 - m.drawerHeight()
-}
-
-func (m model) drawerHeight() int {
-	if m.state == stateInput {
-		return drawerLines()
-	}
-	return 0
+	return m.height - 4
 }
 
 func (m *model) recalcSizes() {
diff --git a/internal/tui/statusbar.go b/internal/tui/statusbar.go
index 07ecf72..7d1ea45 100644
--- a/internal/tui/statusbar.go
+++ b/internal/tui/statusbar.go
@@ -30,12 +30,10 @@ func renderTab(label, key string, active bool) string {
 func renderStatusBar(m model, width int) string {
 	var leftParts []string
 
-	if m.state == stateList {
-		leftParts = append(leftParts, renderTab("capture", "a", false))
-	}
-
 	if m.status != "" {
 		leftParts = append(leftParts, statusStyle.Render(m.status))
+	} else if preview := m.input.previewText(); m.focus == focusCapture && preview != "" {
+		leftParts = append(leftParts, drawerPreviewStyle.Render(preview))
 	} else {
 		leftParts = append(leftParts, statusStyle.Render(countText(m)))
 	}
@@ -76,8 +74,6 @@ func contextHints(m model) []hint {
 		default:
 			return []hint{{"p", "promote"}, {"D", "demote"}, {"c", "copy"}, {"e", "edit"}, {"r", "run"}, {"f", "fill"}, {"!", "pin"}, {"esc", "back"}}
 		}
-	case stateInput:
-		return nil
 	case stateTagFilter:
 		return []hint{{"j/k", "nav"}, {"enter", "select"}, {"esc", "cancel"}}
 	case stateConfirm:
@@ -86,16 +82,23 @@ func contextHints(m model) []hint {
 		return []hint{{"j/k", "nav"}, {"enter", "select"}, {"esc", "cancel"}}
 	case stateAbsorb:
 		return []hint{{"j/k", "nav"}, {"enter", "absorb"}, {"esc", "cancel"}}
+	}
+
+	switch m.focus {
+	case focusCapture:
+		return []hint{{"enter", "submit"}, {"esc", "browse"}, {"?…", "search"}, {"-", "todo"}, {"@", "event"}}
+	case focusDetail:
+		if m.splitDetail {
+			return []hint{{"h", "list"}, {"c", "copy"}, {"e", "edit"}, {"p", "promote"}, {"!", "pin"}, {"tab", "capture"}}
+		}
+		return []hint{{"c", "copy"}, {"e", "edit"}, {"p", "promote"}, {"!", "pin"}, {"esc", "back"}}
 	default:
 		if m.splitDetail {
-			if m.focus == focusDetail {
-				return []hint{{"h", "list"}, {"c", "copy"}, {"e", "edit"}, {"p", "promote"}, {"D", "demote"}, {"!", "pin"}, {"esc", "back"}}
-			}
-			return []hint{{"l", "detail"}, {"d", "del"}, {"#", "filter"}, {"esc", "close"}, {"?", "help"}, {"q", "quit"}}
+			return []hint{{"l", "detail"}, {"d", "del"}, {"#", "filter"}, {"tab", "capture"}, {"?", "help"}}
 		}
 		if m.mode == modeCards {
-			return []hint{{"s", "sort"}, {"tab", "intent"}, {"?", "help"}, {"q", "quit"}}
+			return []hint{{"s", "sort"}, {"i", "intent"}, {"tab", "capture"}, {"?", "help"}}
 		}
-		return []hint{{"?", "search"}, {"m", "absorb"}, {"d", "del"}, {"#", "filter"}, {"?", "help"}, {"q", "quit"}}
+		return []hint{{"m", "absorb"}, {"d", "del"}, {"#", "filter"}, {"tab", "capture"}, {"?", "help"}}
 	}
 }