diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 66df954..8af9129 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -231,10 +231,14 @@ The screen on which every other node renders.
 - **height** - height of the screen (same as `program.rows`).
 - **cols** - same as `screen.width`.
 - **rows** - same as `screen.height`.
-- **left**, **rleft** - left offset, always zero.
-- **right**, **rright** - right offset, always zero.
-- **top**, **rtop** - top offset, always zero.
-- **bottom**, **rbottom** - bottom offset, always zero.
+- **left** - relative left offset, always zero.
+- **right** - relative right offset, always zero.
+- **top** - relative top offset, always zero.
+- **bottom** - relative bottom offset, always zero.
+- **aleft** - absolute left offset, always zero.
+- **aright** - absolute right offset, always zero.
+- **atop** - absolute top offset, always zero.
+- **abottom** - absolute bottom offset, always zero.
 - **grabKeys** - whether the focused element grabs all keypresses.
 - **lockKeys** - prevent keypresses from being received by any element.
 - **hover** - the currently hovered element. only set if mouse events are bound.
@@ -380,14 +384,14 @@ The base element.
 - **bold, underline** - attributes.
 - **width** - calculated width.
 - **height** - calculated height.
-- **left** - calculated absolute left offset.
-- **right** - calculated absolute right offset.
-- **top** - calculated absolute top offset.
-- **bottom** - calculated absolute bottom offset.
-- **rleft** - calculated relative left offset.
-- **rright** - calculated relative right offset.
-- **rtop** - calculated relative top offset.
-- **rbottom** - calculated relative bottom offset.
+- **left** - calculated relative left offset.
+- **right** - calculated relative right offset.
+- **top** - calculated relative top offset.
+- **bottom** - calculated relative bottom offset.
+- **aleft** - calculated absolute left offset.
+- **aright** - calculated absolute right offset.
+- **atop** - calculated absolute top offset.
+- **abottom** - calculated absolute bottom offset.
 
 ##### Events:
 
diff --git a/lib/widget.js b/lib/widget.js
index 3dda68d..3698ad3 100644
--- a/lib/widget.js
+++ b/lib/widget.js
@@ -290,10 +290,10 @@ function Screen(options) {
 
   this.renders = 0;
   this.position = {
-    left: this.left = this.rleft = 0,
-    right: this.right = this.rright = 0,
-    top: this.top = this.rtop = 0,
-    bottom: this.bottom = this.rbottom = 0
+    left: this.left = this.aleft = this.rleft = 0,
+    right: this.right = this.aright = this.rright = 0,
+    top: this.top = this.atop = this.rtop = 0,
+    bottom: this.bottom = this.abottom = this.rbottom = 0
     //get height() { return self.height; },
     //get width() { return self.width; }
   };
@@ -1488,7 +1488,7 @@ Screen.prototype._focus = function(self, old) {
     // NOTE: This is different from the other "visible" values - it needs the
     // visible height of the scrolling element itself, not the element within
     // it.
-    var visible = self.screen.height - el.top - el.itop - el.bottom - el.ibottom;
+    var visible = self.screen.height - el.atop - el.itop - el.abottom - el.ibottom;
     if (self.rtop < el.childBase) {
       el.scrollTo(self.rtop);
       self.screen.render();
@@ -2780,12 +2780,12 @@ Element.prototype._getPos = function() {
 
   assert.ok(pos);
 
-  if (pos.left != null) return pos;
+  if (pos.aleft != null) return pos;
 
-  pos.left = pos.xi;
-  pos.top = pos.yi;
-  pos.right = this.screen.cols - pos.xl;
-  pos.bottom = this.screen.rows - pos.yl;
+  pos.aleft = pos.xi;
+  pos.atop = pos.yi;
+  pos.aright = this.screen.cols - pos.xl;
+  pos.abottom = this.screen.rows - pos.yl;
   pos.width = pos.xl - pos.xi;
   pos.height = pos.yl - pos.yi;
 
@@ -2908,10 +2908,10 @@ Element.prototype._getLeft = function(get) {
     }
   }
 
-  return (parent.left || 0) + left;
+  return (parent.aleft || 0) + left;
 };
 
-Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('left', function() {
+Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('aleft', function() {
   return this._getLeft(false);
 });
 
@@ -2929,7 +2929,7 @@ Element.prototype._getRight = function(get) {
     return right;
   }
 
-  right = (parent.right || 0) + (this.position.right || 0);
+  right = (parent.aright || 0) + (this.position.right || 0);
 
   if (this.screen.autoPadding) {
     // if (this.position.right != null) {
@@ -2940,7 +2940,7 @@ Element.prototype._getRight = function(get) {
   return right;
 };
 
-Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('right', function() {
+Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('aright', function() {
   return this._getRight(false);
 });
 
@@ -2969,10 +2969,10 @@ Element.prototype._getTop = function(get) {
     }
   }
 
-  return (parent.top || 0) + top;
+  return (parent.atop || 0) + top;
 };
 
-Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('top', function() {
+Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('atop', function() {
   return this._getTop(false);
 });
 
@@ -2990,7 +2990,7 @@ Element.prototype._getBottom = function(get) {
     return bottom;
   }
 
-  bottom = (parent.bottom || 0) + (this.position.bottom || 0);
+  bottom = (parent.abottom || 0) + (this.position.bottom || 0);
 
   if (this.screen.autoPadding) {
     // if (this.position.bottom != null) {
@@ -3001,24 +3001,24 @@ Element.prototype._getBottom = function(get) {
   return bottom;
 };
 
-Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('bottom', function() {
+Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('abottom', function() {
   return this._getBottom(false);
 });
 
 Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('rleft', function() {
-  return this.left - this.parent.left;
+  return this.aleft - this.parent.aleft;
 });
 
 Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('rright', function() {
-  return this.right - this.parent.right;
+  return this.aright - this.parent.aright;
 });
 
 Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('rtop', function() {
-  return this.top - this.parent.top;
+  return this.atop - this.parent.atop;
 });
 
 Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('rbottom', function() {
-  return this.bottom - this.parent.bottom;
+  return this.abottom - this.parent.abottom;
 });
 
 /**
@@ -3026,7 +3026,7 @@ Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('rbottom', function() {
  */
 
 // NOTE:
-// For right, bottom, rright, and rbottom:
+// For aright, abottom, right, and bottom:
 // If position.bottom is null, we could simply set top instead.
 // But it wouldn't replicate bottom behavior appropriately if
 // the parent was resized, etc.
@@ -3044,7 +3044,7 @@ Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('height', function(val) {
   return this.position.height = val;
 });
 
-Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('left', function(val) {
+Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('aleft', function(val) {
   if (typeof val === 'string') {
     if (val === 'center') {
       val = this.screen.width / 2 | 0;
@@ -3054,22 +3054,22 @@ Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('left', function(val) {
       val = this.screen.width * val | 0;
     }
   }
-  val -= this.parent.left;
+  val -= this.parent.aleft;
   if (this.position.left === val) return;
   this.emit('move');
   this.clearPos();
   return this.position.left = val;
 });
 
-Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('right', function(val) {
-  val -= this.parent.right;
+Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('aright', function(val) {
+  val -= this.parent.aright;
   if (this.position.right === val) return;
   this.emit('move');
   this.clearPos();
   return this.position.right = val;
 });
 
-Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('top', function(val) {
+Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('atop', function(val) {
   if (typeof val === 'string') {
     if (val === 'center') {
       val = this.screen.height / 2 | 0;
@@ -3079,15 +3079,15 @@ Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('top', function(val) {
       val = this.screen.height * val | 0;
     }
   }
-  val -= this.parent.top;
+  val -= this.parent.atop;
   if (this.position.top === val) return;
   this.emit('move');
   this.clearPos();
   return this.position.top = val;
 });
 
-Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('bottom', function(val) {
-  val -= this.parent.bottom;
+Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('abottom', function(val) {
+  val -= this.parent.abottom;
   if (this.position.bottom === val) return;
   this.emit('move');
   this.clearPos();
@@ -3151,6 +3151,42 @@ Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('tpadding', function() {
     + this.padding.right + this.padding.bottom;
 });
 
+/**
+ * Relative coordinates as default properties
+ */
+
+Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('left', function() {
+  return this.rleft;
+});
+
+Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('right', function() {
+  return this.rright;
+});
+
+Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('top', function() {
+  return this.rtop;
+});
+
+Element.prototype.__defineGetter__('bottom', function() {
+  return this.rbottom;
+});
+
+Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('left', function(val) {
+  return this.rleft = val;
+});
+
+Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('right', function(val) {
+  return this.rright = val;
+});
+
+Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('top', function(val) {
+  return this.rtop = val;
+});
+
+Element.prototype.__defineSetter__('bottom', function(val) {
+  return this.rbottom = val;
+});
+
 /**
  * Rendering - here be dragons
  */
@@ -3534,7 +3570,6 @@ Element.prototype.render = function() {
     , battr
     , dattr
     , c
-    , rtop
     , visible
     , i
     , bch = this.ch;
@@ -6484,7 +6519,7 @@ Listbar.prototype.addItem =
 Listbar.prototype.appendItem = function(item, callback) {
   var self = this
     , prev = this.items[this.items.length - 1]
-    , drawn = prev ? prev.left + prev.width : 0
+    , drawn = prev ? prev.aleft + prev.width : 0
     , cmd
     , title
     , len;
@@ -6823,10 +6858,10 @@ Terminal.prototype.bootstrap = function() {
   this.screen.on('mouse', function(data) {
     if (self.screen.focused !== self) return;
 
-    if (data.x < self.left + self.ileft) return;
-    if (data.y < self.top + self.itop) return;
-    if (data.x > self.left - self.ileft + self.width) return;
-    if (data.y > self.top - self.itop + self.height) return;
+    if (data.x < self.aleft + self.ileft) return;
+    if (data.y < self.atop + self.itop) return;
+    if (data.x > self.aleft - self.ileft + self.width) return;
+    if (data.y > self.atop - self.itop + self.height) return;
 
     if (self.term.x10Mouse
         || self.term.vt200Mouse
@@ -6841,8 +6876,8 @@ Terminal.prototype.bootstrap = function() {
     }
 
     var b = data.raw[0]
-      , x = data.x - self.left
-      , y = data.y - self.top
+      , x = data.x - self.aleft
+      , y = data.y - self.atop
       , s;
 
     if (self.term.urxvtMouse) {
@@ -7184,20 +7219,20 @@ Image.prototype.setImage = function(img, callback) {
 
       var width = self.width * ratio.tw | 0
         , height = self.height * ratio.th | 0
-        , left = self.left * ratio.tw | 0
-        , top = self.top * ratio.th | 0;
+        , aleft = self.aleft * ratio.tw | 0
+        , atop = self.atop * ratio.th | 0;
 
       var input = '0;1;'
-        + left + ';'
-        + top + ';'
+        + aleft + ';'
+        + atop + ';'
         + width + ';'
         + height + ';;;;;'
         + img
         + '\n4;\n3;\n';
 
       self._props = {
-        left: left,
-        top: top,
+        aleft: aleft,
+        atop: atop,
         width: width,
         height: height
       };
@@ -7234,8 +7269,8 @@ Image.prototype.setImage = function(img, callback) {
               && ratio.th === self._lastSize.th
               && size.width === self._lastSize.width
               && size.height === self._lastSize.height
-              && self.left === self._lastSize.left
-              && self.top === self._lastSize.top) {
+              && self.aleft === self._lastSize.aleft
+              && self.atop === self._lastSize.atop) {
             if (!callback) return;
             return callback(null, success);
           }
@@ -7245,8 +7280,8 @@ Image.prototype.setImage = function(img, callback) {
             th: ratio.th,
             width: size.width,
             height: size.height,
-            left: self.left,
-            top: self.top
+            aleft: self.aleft,
+            atop: self.atop
           };
 
           self.position.width = size.width / ratio.tw | 0;
@@ -7295,12 +7330,12 @@ Image.prototype.clearImage = function(callback) {
 
   var width = this._props.width + 2
     , height = this._props.height + 2
-    , left = this._props.left
-    , top = this._props.top;
+    , aleft = this._props.aleft
+    , atop = this._props.atop;
 
   var input = '6;'
-   + left + ';'
-   + top + ';'
+   + aleft + ';'
+   + atop + ';'
    + width + ';'
    + height
    + '\n4;\n3;\n';
diff --git a/test/widget-pos.js b/test/widget-pos.js
index 158a021..0b65f52 100644
--- a/test/widget-pos.js
+++ b/test/widget-pos.js
@@ -38,10 +38,10 @@ var inner = blessed.box({
 main.append(inner);
 
 inner.setContent(inner.content + '\n' + JSON.stringify({
-  left: inner.left,
-  right: inner.right,
-  top: inner.top,
-  bottom: inner.bottom,
+  aleft: inner.aleft,
+  aright: inner.aright,
+  atop: inner.atop,
+  abottom: inner.abottom,
   width: inner.width,
   height: inner.height,
   rleft: inner.rleft,
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ inner.setContent(inner.content + '\n' + JSON.stringify({
 assert.equal(inner.width, 57);
 assert.equal(inner.height, 7);
 
-assert.equal(inner.left, 4);
-assert.equal(inner.right, 93);
-assert.equal(inner.top, 4);
-assert.equal(inner.bottom, 8);
+assert.equal(inner.aleft, 4);
+assert.equal(inner.aright, 93);
+assert.equal(inner.atop, 4);
+assert.equal(inner.abottom, 8);
 
 assert.equal(inner.rleft, 2);
 assert.equal(inner.rright, 56);
@@ -65,11 +65,11 @@ assert.equal(inner.rbottom, 5);
 
 // Change left to half of the parent width.
 inner.rleft = '50%';
-assert.equal(inner.left, 59);
+assert.equal(inner.aleft, 59);
 
 // Change left to half of the screen width.
-inner.left = '50%';
-assert.equal(inner.left, screen.width / 2 | 0);
+inner.aleft = '50%';
+assert.equal(inner.aleft, screen.width / 2 | 0);
 
 // Test implied height/width.
 reset(inner, {
@@ -82,8 +82,8 @@ reset(inner, {
 assert.equal(inner.width, 105);
 assert.equal(inner.height, 4);
 
-// Demonstrate the difference between `left: 5`, and `.left = 5` (relative vs. absolute):
-inner.top = inner.bottom = inner.left = inner.right = 5;
+// Demonstrate the difference between `left: 5`, and `.aleft = 5` (relative vs. absolute):
+inner.atop = inner.abottom = inner.aleft = inner.aright = 5;
 
 assert.equal(inner.width, 144);
 assert.equal(inner.height, 9);
diff --git a/test/widget.js b/test/widget.js
index cc00440..2d01b2a 100644
--- a/test/widget.js
+++ b/test/widget.js
@@ -249,5 +249,5 @@ setInterval(function() {
   progress.progress(2);
   screen.render();
   setTimeout(fill, 300);
-  progress.top -= 2;
+  progress.atop -= 2;
 })();