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,
Lipstick 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 doubled-tiered
Omnibus squelching tar. It was real! Shamed
By ill-mannered silence, surrender
Pushed dumbfounded 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 Africa sepia” and as afterthought,
“down in my passport.” Silence for spectroscopic
Flight of fancy, till truthfulness clanged her accent
Hard on the mouthpiece. “WHAT’S THAT?” concending
“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 ringing on the thunderclap
about my ears “Madam,” I pleaded, “wouldn’t you
rather see for yourself?”

-By: Wole Soyinka