An Interlude: Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka
This week is an intermission for us. We share with you a poem by Wole Soyinka, - Poem by Wole Soyinka Music by Falk Schrauwen - Telephone Conversation’ is a poem written by Wole Soyinka, a renowned African writer in English. The poem exposes the presence of racial discrimination at the individual level in society even after the passing of laws against it. ‘Telephone Conversation‘, as the title suggests, is a conversation over the telephone. It is between a black man seeking a room for rent, and a white landlady who had advertised such an offer. Over the conversation, the hypocritical nature of the landlady as a racist is brought to light. - The Poem 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 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 accent was clinical, crushing in its light Impersonality. Rapidly, wave-length adjusted I chose. 'West African sepia'_ and as afterthought. 'Down in my passport.' Silence for spectroscopic Flight of fancy, till truthfulness chaged 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 blonde. Friction, caused- Foolishly madam- by sitting down, has turned My bottom raven black- One moment madam! - sensing Her receiver rearing on the thunderclap About my ears- 'Madam,' I pleaded, 'wouldn't you rather See for yourself?'
