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!