Telephone Conversation

The price seemed reasonable, location
Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived
Off premises. Nothing remained
But self-confession. “Madame,” 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 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 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?”

(Written in 1960)

Wonderful to hear from so many people- today brilliant mmessages from Nela and Nahir, yesterday Maria Esther and Margit- as well as others nearer home- Eleonor, Inez, José, David, Andrea M… as we say in Brazil “que saudades”…

Good news- a new HSS in Brazil for 2007 is confirmed!

Please send suggestions for topics…

We would also like to hear about a couple of things we failed to put in the feedback questionnaire.

1. Were the dates good, or would one week later have been better? (one participant made that suggestion)

2. How would you rate participant presentations-

a) individual presentations

b) the rotating sessions

c) the exhibtion and the explanation/presentation session