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 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 African 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?” 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 blond. 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?”.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE POEM
This poem, titled “Telephone Conversation” by Wole Soyinka, explores the theme of racial prejudice. In simpler terms for a kid, it’s about a person trying to rent a place to live and facing discrimination based on their skin color. The conversation revolves around the absurdity of judging someone’s worth or character solely by their appearance. The poem highlights the impact of racism and how it can be hurtful and unfair.
THEMES
The main themes in “Telephone Conversation” by Wole Soyinka include:
Racial Prejudice: The poem addresses the issue of racial discrimination, where the speaker encounters bias based on skin color during a phone conversation about renting a place.
Communication Breakdown: The miscommunication and misunderstanding between the speaker and the landlady reflect broader challenges in effective communication, especially when dealing with sensitive topics like race.
Stereotyping: The poem explores how people often rely on stereotypes to judge others quickly. The landlady’s fixation on the color of the speaker’s skin illustrates the harm caused by preconceived notions.
Dehumanization: The dehumanizing impact of racism is evident as the speaker is reduced to a color category rather than being seen as an individual with unique qualities and experiences.
Absurdity of Racism: The poem uses humor and irony to underscore the absurdity of racial discrimination, exposing the illogical nature of judging someone’s character solely based on their skin tone.
These themes collectively convey a powerful message about the negative consequences of prejudice and the need for understanding and empathy in human interactions.
Figurative devices in the poem
“Telephone Conversation” by Wole Soyinka incorporates several figurative devices to convey its themes and enhance the poetic expression. Here are some examples:
Simile: The line “Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light impersonality” uses a simile to compare the woman’s agreement to something clinical, emphasizing its cold and detached nature.
Metaphor: The phrase “wave-length adjusted” is a metaphor for the speaker adapting to the conversation, suggesting a change in communication style to fit the discriminatory context.
Personification: The phrase “Silence, Silenced transmission” personifies silence, attributing it with the ability to transmit or convey a message.
Hyperbole: The line “I hate a wasted journey” employs hyperbole, exaggerating the speaker’s dislike for unproductive trips to emphasize the importance of the conversation.
Alliteration: The repetition of the “r” sound in “Red booth. Red pillar box. Red double-tiered Omnibus” creates an alliterative effect, drawing attention to the prominent red elements in the scene.
Irony: The entire situation is ironic, as the landlady’s questions about the darkness of the speaker’s skin are turned around when he humorously describes his physical features, revealing the absurdity of racial stereotypes.
Symbolism: The colors red and gold in the poem may symbolize power, authority, or societal expectations, adding depth to the descriptions.
These figurative devices contribute to the poem’s artistic expression, making it more engaging and helping to convey the underlying themes with vivid imagery and emotional impact.
The structure of the poem
The structure of “Telephone Conversation” by Wole Soyinka is notable for its use of free verse and varying line lengths. The poem is divided into a series of stanzas, each containing different parts of the speaker’s conversation with the landlady in a dramatic conversation.
Here’s a brief overview of the poem’s structure:
Free Verse: The poem is written in free verse, meaning it lacks a regular rhyme scheme and meter. This form allows for flexibility in expression and a more natural flow of language.
Stanzas: The poem is divided into several stanzas, with each stanza capturing a specific part of the phone conversation. The breaks between stanzas create pauses that allow readers to digest and reflect on the unfolding dialogue.
Varied Line Lengths: The length of lines in each stanza varies, contributing to the conversational and informal tone of the poem. This irregularity in line length can also emphasize certain words or phrases.
Enjambment: The poem frequently uses enjambment, where lines flow into each other without a pause or punctuation at the end. This technique propels the reader from one line to the next, creating a sense of continuous thought and conversation.
Shifts in Tone: The poem exhibits shifts in tone, moving from the speaker’s initial practical concerns to the realization of racial prejudice and concluding with a humorous twist. These shifts contribute to the overall impact of the poem.
Overall, the structure of “Telephone Conversation” reflects the spontaneity and complexity of a real conversation while allowing for the exploration of deep themes such as racism and communication breakdowns.