whisper of yellow globes
gleaming on lamp-posts that sway
like bootleg licker drinkers in the fog

and let your breath be moist against me
like bright beads on yellow globes

telephone the power-house
that the main wires are insulate

(her words play softly up and down
dewy corridors of billboards)

then with your tongue remove the tape
and press your lips to mine
till they are incandescent

Analysis, meaning and summary of Jean Toomer's poem Her Lips Are Copper Wire

6 Comments

  1. Jasinto says:

    un poema excelente. muy bien escrito y pensado.

  2. Jasinto says:

    un poema excelente. muy bien escrito y pensado.

  3. Stephanie says:

    This is a great poem. there is so much imagery. “telephone the power-house that the main wires are insulate” is like saying that there is electrical tape on the wires that are the feelings that they have for each other. “then with your toung remove the tape” is like saying remove the hesitation, fear and uncertainty that we might have about each other.

  4. andrew says:

    I think you are exactly right… people never look into the person to see how great they really are they look at the color of there skin. Racisim is still going on and should be stopped!!!!!!
    Im am a white 14 yr old!!

  5. Monu Gaurav says:

    Excellent poem for people who understand. Short and simple as well. Depicts true understanding.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Do you have any comments, criticism, paraphrasis or analysis of this poem that you feel would assist other visitors in understanding the meaning or the theme of this poem by Jean Toomer better? If accepted, your analysis will be added to this page of American Poems. Together we can build a wealth of information, but it will take some discipline and determination.