Poem: “Telephone Conversation” by Wole Soyinka

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“Telephone Conversation” by Wole Soyinka depicts a speaker’s experience when trying to rent a room, presumably in a European country. The poem highlights the uncomfortable exchange between the African speaker and a prejudiced white landlady.

Telephone Conversation

The price seemed reasonable, location 
Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived 
Off premises. Nothing remained 
But self-confession. ‘Madam,’ I warned, 
‘I hate a wasted journey—I am African.’
Silence. Silenced transmission of 
Pressurized good-breeding. Voice, when it came, 
Lip-stick coated, long gold-rolled
Cigarette-holder pipped. Caught I was, foully. 
‘HOW DARK?’. . . I had not misheard . . . ‘ARE YOU LIGHT
OR VERY DARK?’ Button B. Button A. Stench 
Of rancid breath of public-hide-and-speak. 
Red booth. Red pillar-box. Red double-tiered 
Omnibus squelching tar. It was real! Shamed 
By ill-mannered silence, surrender 
Pushed dumbfoundment to beg simplification.
Considerate she was, varying the emphasis—
‘ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT?’ Revelation came.
‘You mean—like plain or milk chocolate?’ 
Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light 
Impersonality. Rapidly, wave-length adjusted, 
I chose. ‘West African sepia’—and as an afterthought,
‘'Down in my passport.’ Silence for spectroscopic
Flight of fancy, till truthfulness clanged her accent
Hard on the mouthpiece. ‘WHAT’S THAT?’ conceding,
‘DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.’ ‘Like brunette.’
‘THAT’S DARK, ISN’T IT?’ ‘Not altogether.
Facially, I am brunette, but madam, you should see 
The rest of me. Palm of my hand, soles of my feet
Are a peroxide blond. Friction, caused— 
Foolishly madam—by sitting down, has turned
My bottom raven black—One moment madam!’—sensing
Her receiver rearing on the thunder clap 
About my ears—‘Madam,’ I pleaded, ‘wouldn’t you rather
See for yourself?’

— Wole Soyinka

Reference

Reed, J., & Wake, C. (Eds.). (1984). A new book of African verse. African Writers Series 8. Exeter, NH: Heinemann.

Also by Soyinka

• Abiku
• Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth
• Death in the Dawn
• The Apotheosis of Master Sergeant Doe

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