PoemMadam and The Rent Man
Author / PoetLangston Hughes
ReferenceThis one is taken from THE COLLECTED POEMS OF LANGSTON HUGHES

The rent man knocked.
He said, Howdy-do?
I said, What
Can I do for you?
He said, You know
Your rent is due.

I said, Listen,
Before I’d pay
I’d go to Hades
And rot away!

The sink is broke,
The water don’t run,
And you ain’t done a thing
You promised to’ve done.

Back window’s cracked,
Kitchen floor squeaks,
There’s rats in the cellar,
And the attic leaks.

He said, Madam,
It’s not up to me.
I’m just the agent,
Don’t you see?

I said, Naturally,
You pass the buck.
If it’s money you want
You’re out of luck.

He said, Madam,
I ain’t pleased!
I said, Neither am I.
So we agrees!

Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes
1 Feb 1902 - 22 May 1967
Movement: Harlem Renaissance
Awards: Anisfield-Wolf Book Award

more poems by Langston Hughes

Poem NameTopic
Trumpet Player
Theme For English B
The Negro Mother
The Negro Speaks Of Rivers
The Dream Keeper
The Ballad Of The Landlord
Motto
Mother To Son
Me And The Mule
Madam and the Census Man

all poems by Langston Hughes

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