Madam And The Phone Bill Poem by Langston Hughes

Madam And The Phone Bill

Rating: 3.3


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!

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Brian Jani 05 May 2014

Wow an interesting concept here

1 4 Reply
Ll Bb 22 February 2009

i performed this poem for my declamation in 8th grade.. i had so much fun with it

6 6 Reply
Cori Echols 14 December 2006

That sounds bout like my mama! ! I really like this poem

7 6 Reply
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