The census man,
The day he came round,
Wanted my
To put it down.
I said,
ON,
TA K.
But he hated to write The K that way.
He said,
Does K stand for?
I said,
K--And nothing more.
He said,
I'm gonna put itKÐAÐY.
I said,
If you do,
You lie.
My mother christened
TA K.
You leave my
Just that way!
He said,
Mrs.,(With a snort)Just a
Makes your name too short.
I said,
I
Give a damn!
Leave me and my
Just like I am!
Furthermore, rub
That
RS., too--I'll have you knowI'm Madam to you!
This is one of a number of Madam poems by Langston Hughes that can be considered as a lonked series.
Madam And The Rent Man Madam And The Census Man Madam And Her Madam Madam And The Phone Bill Madam’s Past History