# Fascination explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Langston Hughes.

## What happens

The speaker expresses deep admiration and love for a woman, describing her physical beauty through natural metaphors and emphasizing his desire to kiss her.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Loss

The poem centers on a declaration of love and physical attraction, highlighting the theme of romantic desire.

### Racial Identity and Oppression

The description of the woman's brown skin and dark features celebrates Black beauty, affirming racial identity against societal norms.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who declares love and desire for the woman.

### Fascination

The woman being admired for her beauty, with comparisons to apple, plums, midnight, and oak leaves.

## Key lines

> Her teeth are as white as the meat of an apple, Her lips are like dark ripe plums.

Her teeth are very white and her lips are dark and full like ripe plums.

_Uses fruit imagery to describe her facial features._

> Her hair is a midnight mass, a dusky aurora.

Her hair is dark like midnight and has a soft, glowing quality.

_Compares her hair to night and a dusky dawn._

> And because her skin is the brown of an oak leaf in autumn, but a softer color, I want to kiss her.

Her brown skin reminds me of an autumn oak leaf, only softer, and that makes me want to kiss her.

_Expresses desire rooted in the beauty of her skin tone._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_15_se/chapters/fascination
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_15_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_15_se/chapters