Question

Describe once upon a time as stire on modern life

Answer 1

Explanation:

ONCE UPON A TIME

Gabriel Okara (Nigeria)

Once upon a time, son

They used to 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 – home face,

office face, street face, host face,

cocktail face, 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.