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! This is one of a number of Madam poems by Langston Hughes that can be considered as a lonked series. Madam And The Rent Man http://oldpoetry. com/opoem/70753 Madam And The Census Man http://oldpoetry. com/opoem/show/70755 Madam And Her Madam http://oldpoetry. com/opoem/12621 Madam And The Phone Bill http://oldpoetry. com/opoem/12620 Madam’s Past History http://oldpoetry. com/opoem/70751