Madam And The Phone Bill - A poem by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes - Madam And The Phone Bill

You say I O.K.ed
LONG DISTANCE?
O.K.ed it when?
My goodness, Central
That was then!

I'm mad and disgusted
With that Negro now.
I don't pay no REVERSED
CHARGES nohow.

You say, I will pay it--
Else you'll take out my phone?
You better let
My phone alone.

I didn't ask him
To telephone me.
Roscoe knows darn well
LONG DISTANCE
Ain't free.

If I ever catch him,
Lawd, have pity!
Calling me up
From Kansas City.

Just to say he loves me!
I knowed that was so.
Why didn't he tell me some'n
I don't know?

For instance, what can
Them other girls do
That Alberta K. Johnson
Can't do--and more, too?

What's that, Central?
You say you don't care
Nothing about my
Private affair?

Well, even less about your
PHONE BILL, does I care!

Un-humm-m! . . . Yes!
You say I gave my O.K.?
Well, that O.K. you may keep--

But I sure ain't gonna pay!

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Added: Feb 20 2003 | Viewed: 20880 times |

Comments (13)

Madam And The Phone Bill - Comments and Information
Poet: Langston Hughes Poem: Madam And The Phone Bill Poem of the Day: Oct 6 2009 Comment 13 of 13, added on January 16th, 2013 at 4:04 AM. NLFglxHA Dear Sir,Yes you have to inform.This is new apinmntpeot .For the organization reapportionment.As per the rule their term is over and reapportionment from new period effect will takes place N.M.VALANManager- Admn.FinanceCaritas India,CBCI Centre,1 Ashok Place,Gole Dakkanna,New Delhi 110 001Fax.+91-11-23715146/23367488,valan@caritasindia.net,www.caritasindia.org Mei from Nepal Comment 12 of 13, added on January 15th, 2013 at 4:58 PM. gEFWUPrGfiMGKpztYBR The World Without WaterWe think we know the earth that mothers us,that maueersd and tested, dug and scraped,enhanced and developed, the planet improvesby our gentle exploitation, that we can makeall properties water-front—charming viewsof oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds, trickling creeks,springs, fountains, wind-whipped waves, ripples,and thundering falls.Even frozen tundra, icebergs, clouds, mists,thermal steam, gentle and torrential rains, snows,hail, sleet, flood, monsoon, and unbearable humidityare parents of forests, prairies, all things greenand varied, flowered and fruited, finned and winged,hooved and hopping, slithering, swimming, and walking.The planet can continue without any of this,another dirtball in the sky, but who would wantthis altered real estate, where blue is not blue,and green is not green? Raul from Jordan Comment 11 of 13, added on December 5th, 2009 at 5:52 PM. Madam And The Phone Bill To really get a sensation from this poem, one needs to read it in a Southern African-american voice. And i don't think its supposed to be analyzed in a metaphorical manner. Props to Hughes for his ability to input rhythm and style. Joey from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Madam And The Phone Bill, has received 13 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own.

Poem Info
Poet: Langston Hughes Poem: Madam And The Phone Bill Last read: 2013-06-19 07:30:04 Poem of the Day: Oct 6 2009 Viewed 20880 times. Added Feb 20 2003.

Hughes Info
Biography More Poems (29 poems) Langston Hughes books