The poem ' Once Upon a Time" is written by Gabriel Okara , a Nigerian poet. It is narrated in 1t person narrative point of view and free verse style. Poem majorly contrasts between genuineness vs ingenuity and appearance vs reality , compassion , simplicity and brotherhood.
Once upon a time son,
Throughout the poem , an addressing by the father to his baby son can be seen. He refers to time' once upon a time' indicating all the circumstances he have mentioned are belong to the past. Father is going to tell a story his baby son may be to please him, reveal something or confess.
they used to laugh with their hearts
and laugh with their eyes;
Poet's friends or relations should be referred as ' they'. According to him, in the past his companions were used to laugh freely with their hearts rally a genuine expression of their happiness. While they are laughing , their eyes used to glimmer happily with overwhelming bliss and innocence.
but now they only laugh with their teeth
Poet contrasts with his companion's early happiness with their current expressions. He highly admires the real genuine laugh they expressed through heart and eyes earlier.
while their eyes -block- cold eyes
Poet compares the fake and ingenuine smiles to eyes blocks. Ice blocks implies lifelessness, selfishness and dull nature. As eyes blocks , people also have cold and dull tempers.
search behind my shadow.
As the companions cold ,dull nature they are introverts that doesn't tell or do anything out in the open. They 'search behind' secretly hiding behind one's shadow not expecting a progress abut expecting a downfall.
There was a time indeed
they used to shake hands with their hearts;
but that's gone son.
Poet reminds the past again in a sad tone. The past which his companions were used to laugh and maintain worm connections have already ended. He explains the bitter reality to his son of non existed human emotions and actions among human being.
Now they shake hands without hearts
while their left hands search
my empty pockets.
'Shaking hands ' has a strong bond with the western culture of greeting. hand shakers believed that one's sincerity can be symbolized by shaking each others hands and and also a symbol of showing one's overwhelming concern to other. According to the poet, nowadays hand shakers do not shake hands without hearts but to get an opportunity to reach one's pockets using the left hands. But the won't be able to get any advantage because his pockets are empty. This line describes the opportunistic and selfish nature of the modern society. You will get the recognition, if your pockets are loaded with money, but if they are empty you will receive nothing.
'Feel at home!' 'Come again '
they say, and when I come
again ad feel
at home , once, twice,
there will be no thrice-
for then I find doors shut on me.
In the past societies there was a set of rituals one should consider about the gusts and relations. They always expected to a relation or a guest to visit their houses and treated them as best they can without a glimpse of a annoying feeling. By and by society and its people changed and they were framed only for themselves. Being kind for others was not to seen anymore and the doors always kept shut rejecting the friendships and relationships.
So, I have learned many things,
I have learned to wear many faces
like dresses- homeface
officeface, streetface, hostface
cocktailface, with all their confirming smiles
like a fixed portrait smile.
Gradually poet got accustomed to the complex fake compassion of the people. He was always transformed into a fake soul and was taught to behave in a fake identity in the presence of people. He compares the different identities he wore from time to time like dresses. At home , he wore homeface, officeface and streetface also hostface and cocktailface. The only specialty of these faces was the 'confirming smile'. It never changed in the sorrow or bliss because it was lifeless, heartless smile.
And I have learned too
to laugh with only my teeth
and shake hands without my heart.
Poet laughed only with teeth without feeling of compassion nd shook hands without a glimpse of a friendliness. According to the poet, this friendless nature caused to make him rather mechanical.
I have also learned to say 'Goodbye'
when i mean 'Good-riddens ',
to say 'Glad to meet you',
without being glad; and to say 'It's been
nice talking to you; after being bored.
Poet changes his attitudes because to et accustomed to modern trend of making relationships. He used to say 'Goodbye' when he meant to say' it's better to get rid of you'. he said 'glad to meet you ' to people even he was not glad and said' it's been nice talking to you' after getting bored with a conversation. These lines portrays that 'modern man' means the opposite of what he says with a mechanical way of living and dealing with society.
But believe me son,
I want to be what I used to be
when I was like you, I want
to unlearn all these muting things,
Most of all, I want to relearn
how to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror
shoe only my teeth like a snake's are fangs !
Throughout this stanza, a regretful confession made by the poet to his baby son can be seen. He asked his son to ' believe him' eve though he has spent a fake life so far. He described the life he wanted to spend when he was a child. ' Child' is considered as the most genuine creature of the world because his happiness, laugh , pain and tears are absolutely real. Poet really admires the genuineness of his son and depicts it as the target of life. He wished to unlearn his ingenuity and relearn or update himself with genuineness and compassion.
So , show me, son,
how to laugh ; show me how
I used to augh and smile
once upon a time wen I was like you.
Poet asks for help of his baby son to change himself. He also asks hi s don to teach him how to laugh with a genuine smile and affectionate feelings in the heart. He wats to wear the childish smile of his son.