Telephone Conversation Wole Soyinka The price seemed reasonable, location Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived Off premises. Nothing remained But self-confession. “Madam,” I warned, 5 “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. 10 . . I had not misheard . . . “HOW DARK?” . “ARE YOU LIGHT OR VERY Button B. Button A. Stench DARK?” Of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak. Red booth. Red pillar-box. Red double-tiered Omnibus squelching tar. It was real! Shamed 15 By ill-mannered silence, surrender Pushed dumbfoundment to beg simplification. Considerate she was, varying the emphasis— DARK? OR VERY came. “ARE YOU LIGHT?” Revelation “You mean—like plain or milk chocolate?” 20 Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light Impersonality. Rapidly, wavelength adjusted, I as an afterthought, chose. “West African sepia”—and in my passport.” “Down Silence for spectroscopic Flight of fancy, till truthfulness clanged her accent 25 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 30 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 you rather pleaded, “wouldn’t 35 See for yourself?” Answer the questions below. _____ 1. When the voice on the phone asks LIGHT / lines “ARE YOU OR VERY DARK?” in
Telephone Conversation Wole Soyinka The price seemed reasonable, location Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived Off premises. Nothing remained But self-confession. “Madam,” I warned, 5 “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. 10 “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 15 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?” 20 Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light Impersonality. Rapidly, wavelength 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 25 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 30 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 35 See for yourself?” Answer the questions below. _____ 1. When the voice on the phone asks “ARE YOU LIGHT / OR VERY DARK?” in lines
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