* Sound: The poem is filled with the sounds of the telephone conversation: the "clicking of the switch," the "hush," the "soft" voice, and the "clicking of the engaged tone." This creates a sensory experience of the speaker's interaction with the racist landlord.
* Light: The speaker uses the imagery of "dark" and "light" to contrast his own blackness with the landlord's ignorance and prejudice.
* Taste: The speaker uses the metaphor of "tasting" to describe the landlord's attempts to visually identify him, highlighting the dehumanizing nature of the interaction.
* Touch: The landlord's actions are described through "touch," "trying to see" the speaker, but his hands are only "on the phone" and unable to truly grasp the speaker's reality.
Other key elements of the poem's imagery:
* The "colour" of the speaker's voice: This is a recurring motif, highlighting the absurdity of the landlord's attempts to discern the speaker's race based on his voice.
* The "telephone" itself: The phone acts as a barrier and a symbol of the disconnect between the speaker and the landlord.
* The "room" and "flat": These are implied spaces that are never fully described but contribute to the sense of confinement and isolation experienced by the speaker.
Overall, the imagery in "Telephone Conversation" is sparse yet powerful, effectively capturing the speaker's frustration, alienation, and ultimately, his triumph over prejudice. It uses everyday elements like sound, light, and touch to convey the invisible barriers of racism and the struggle for equality.