Once Upon a Time

[Jeanne84]

This poem is by Gabriel Okara and it's meaning rings very true. I hope you like it.

Once upon a time, son
they used to laugh with their hearts
and laugh with their eyes;
but now they only laugh with their teeth,
while their ice-black-cold eyes
search behind my shadow.

There was a time indeed
they used to shake hands with their hearts;
but that's gone, son.
Now they shake hands without hearts
while their left hands search
my empty pockets.

"Feel at home," "Come again,"
they say, and when I come
again and feel
at home, once, twice,
there will be no thrice--
for then I find doors shut on me.

So I have learned many things, son.
I have learned to wear many faces
like dresses--home face,
office face, street face, host face, cocktail face,
with all their conforming smiles
like a fixed portrait smile.

And have learned, too,
to laugh with only my teeth
and shake hands without my heart.
I have also learned to say "Good bye"
when I mean "Good riddance";
to say "Glad to meet you,"
without being glad; and to say "It's been nice talking
to you," after being bored.

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
shows only my teeth like a snake's bare fangs!

So show me, son,
how to laugh; show me how
I used to laugh and smile
once upon a time I was like you.

[Sercee]

*applause*

This should be spread around more.

[Jeanne84]

I love it too. It broke my heart the first time I read it, but now I read it and it fills me with hope.

[Sercee]

You're right. That's what I feel it does, too. It's inspiring.

[Sobek]

i didnt like it, i dont see the inspiration either. to me it is a nostalgia poem and it lacked heart.

[Sercee]

I agree, Sobek, that it was full of nostalgia. But it's also meant to remind you to live life and be sincere rather than just go through the movements.

It refers regularily to the 'son', so the author is being inspired by the innocence of a child to change.