12th class Poem "Once Upon a Time"
Written by
Gabriel Okara
Original Readings
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-block-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 - homeface,
officeface, streetface, hostface,
cocktailface, with all their conforming smiles
like a fixed portrait smile.
And I have learned too
to laugh with only my teeth
and shake hands without my heart.
I have also learned to say, 'Goodbye',
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 when I was like you
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Paraphrasing:
Stanza-1 Original Readings
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-block-cold eyes
search behind my shadow.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-1: Line by Line
There was a time, my son,
when people laughed with genuine warmth from their hearts,
and their eyes showed real joy.
But now, they only give fake smiles, showing their teeth,
while their eyes are cold and emotionless like ice
as if they are looking past me, not really seeing me.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-1: In a Paragraph
In this stanza, the poet tells his son that there was a time when people laughed with real warmth and sincerity, showing genuine feelings through both their hearts and eyes. However, now their laughter has become fake and empty, only showing through their teeth, while their cold, unfeeling eyes seem to look past him, as if searching for something hidden or judging him.
Stanza-2:
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.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-2: Line by Line
There truly was a time
when people shook hands with true warmth and sincerity.
But that time is passed now, my son.
Now, they shake hands without any real feeling,
while their hand is secretly checking
my empty pockets
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-2: In a Paragraph
In this stanza, the speaker recalls a time when people used to shake hands warmly, with genuine feeling. But now, he tells his son, that sincerity is gone. People shake hands without any real emotion, and at the same time, they are secretly trying to take advantage of him, even checking his pockets for what they can gain.
Stanza-3
'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.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-3: Line by Line
They say, "Make yourself at home!" and "Come back again."
They say this, and when I actually return,
and start to feel comfortable there,
after one or two visits, there won't be a third time—
because I find the doors closed to me after that.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-3: In a Paragraph
In this stanza, the speaker describes how people say things like "Feel at home!" and "Come again" to sound welcoming. But if he takes their words seriously and visits once or twice, he realizes he isn’t actually welcome. By the third visit, he finds the doors closed to him, revealing that their words were not sincere.
Stanza-4
So I have learned many things, son.
I have learned to wear many faces
like dresses - homeface,
officeface, streetface, hostface,
cocktailface, with all their conforming smiles
like a fixed portrait smile.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-4: Line by Line
I have picked up a lot of habits over time, my son.
I’ve learned to put on different “faces” or ways of acting,
like I would wear different clothes, such as a face for when I’m at home,
another face for work, one for being out in public, and one for hosting guests,
and another for social events, each with the same kind of polite, forced smile,
like a smile that’s frozen in a picture, never changing.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-4: In a Paragraph
In this stanza, the speaker tells his son that he has learned to put on different "faces" or expressions for different situations, just like changing outfits. He has a different face for home, work, social events, and being a host. Each of these faces comes with a polite, practiced smile, like a forced, unchanging smile in a portrait, rather than a real, heartfelt expression.
Stanza-5
And I have learned too
to laugh with only my teeth
and shake hands without my heart.
I have also learned to say, 'Goodbye',
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-5: Line by Line
I have also learned
to laugh without real feeling, just showing my teeth,
and to shake hands without putting my heart into it.
I have learned to say "Goodbye,"
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-5: In a Paragraph
In this stanza, the speaker explains how he has learned to put on a fake smile, laughing only with his teeth and not with real joy, and to shake hands without feeling any genuine warmth or connection. He has also learned to say "Goodbye" without any real emotion, showing how he has lost sincerity in his interactions with others.
Stanza-6
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.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-6: Line by Line
when I actually mean "Good riddance."
I’ve learned to say "Glad to meet you,"
even when I’m not really glad;
and to say "It's been nice talking to you,"
even when I felt bored the entire time.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-6: In a Paragraph
In this stanza, the speaker reflects on how he has learned to be insincere in his interactions with others. He describes how he says polite phrases like "Glad to meet you" or "It's been nice talking to you" without genuinely feeling glad or interested. Instead, he often feels the opposite—relieved or even bored—but hides his true feelings behind polite words.
Stanza-7
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!
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-7: Line by Line
But trust me, son.
I want to go back to being the way I used to be
when I was more like you.
I want to forget all these habits that have dulled my true self.
More than anything, I want to relearn
how to laugh sincerely, because when I see myself laughing in the mirror
it just shows my teeth, looking fake and cold, like a snake’s bare fangs.
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-7: In a Paragraph
In this stanza, the speaker is telling his son that he wishes he could be like he was in his younger days, when he was more genuine and innocent. He feels he has picked up bad habits that have silenced or dulled his true self. Above all, he wants to learn how to laugh sincerely again, because now, when he looks in the mirror, his laughter looks forced and fake—just baring his teeth like a snake's fangs.
Stanza-8
So show me, son,
how to laugh; show me how
I used to laugh and smile
once upon a time when I was like you
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-8: Line by Line
So, please show me, son,
how to laugh again; show me how
I used to laugh and smile
long ago, when I was more like you
Simple and easy paraphrasing of stanza-8: In a Paragraph
In this stanza, the speaker is asking his son to teach him how to laugh and smile genuinely again, the way he did long ago when he was young and innocent like his son. He longs to rediscover the natural, sincere joy he once had, which he feels he has lost over time.
*************************************
The Summary of the poem "Once Upon a Time" written by Gabriel Okara:
In the poem "Once Upon a Tim", Gabriel Okara reflects on how people have lost their sincerity over time, and he shares these thoughts with his son. He remembers a time when people’s smiles and handshakes were warm and heartfelt, but now they are fake, just surface-level gestures with no real feeling behind them. To fit into this changed world, he has learned to put on different "faces" for different situations and to act polite without truly meaning it. However, he misses his genuine, innocent self and wishes he could go back to being like his son—able to laugh, smile, and connect with others honestly. He asks his son to teach him how to be real and joyful again, like he was when he was young.
*************************************
The central idea of the poem "Once Upon a Time" written by Gabriel Okara:
The central idea of Gabriel Okara's poem "Once Upon a Time" is the contrast between genuine emotions and the fake, insincere behavior people adopt as they grow older. The speaker reflects on how, in the past, people laughed and connected with sincerity, but now their actions—like smiling, laughing, and shaking hands—feel hollow and untrustworthy. The speaker has learned to hide his true feelings behind different "faces" to fit in, but he longs to return to a time when he was authentic and honest. He asks his son to teach him how to be genuine and happy again, like he once was in his youth.
Or
The central idea of Gabriel Okara’s poem *Once Upon a Time* is the loss of sincerity and authenticity in human relationships as people become more superficial and insincere. The speaker reflects on how people used to express genuine warmth and kindness but now only show fake smiles and empty gestures. To adapt, he himself has learned to put on different faces and act polite without feeling it. However, he longs to return to his former, innocent self and hopes his son can teach him to rediscover genuine laughter and joy. The poem highlights a desire to reconnect with true emotions and authenticity.
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