Page 1 : ONCE UPON A TIME, Gabriel Okara, , Okara’s poetry is based on a series of contrasts in which symbols are neatly balanced, against each other. The need to reconcile the experiences preoccupies his verse, and a typical poem, has a circular movement from everyday reality to a moment of joy and back to reality again. ‘Once, upon a time’ comments on the hypocrisy of human nature and deceptiveness of expression. The, poet makes us realize the significance of innocence and truthful childhood expressions. Okara, might certainly have the influence of the Western culture upon the traditional African society at, the back of his mind while composing the poem., , ‘Once upon a time’ is addressed to a son by a father. The father in the poem talks about the, changing behaviour of the new generation. He recalls his childhood days, compares it with the new, and shockingly realizes how the people have lost genuineness and truthfulness in their behaviour., The father says that their generation was different, they used to laugh with his heart and with his, eyes. Now they just grin and their eyes remain emotionless. They have become very mechanical., People have learnt to wear very many faces like dresses. They change faces taking one off and, exchanging it for something more suitable like home face, office face and street face. They are a, series of masks and are not sincere at all. He says to his son that people used to shake their hand, with their hearts but it does not happen now. Now people shake hands with cruel intensions. While, shaking hands they use the free hands to search the empty pockets., , This changed modern world has taught him to behave like them. He too learnt to roam, about with the matching smile. He learnt to say “Good bye” which means “good-riddance” He has, also learnt to say “glad to meet you without being glad”. He does all these things with regrets. He, wants to relearn what he used to do in his past. He asks his son to teach the sweet innocent smile, of a child. He wants to laugh with his heart like when he was a child. He wishes that he could, once again be as natural, honest, and innocent as when he was a child., , Answer the following questions:, 1 What effect does the poet create by using the phrase ‘once upon a time’?, , Ans: By using the phrase ‘Once upon a time’ the poet indicates that he is talking about something, that happened a long time ago, something far-fetched. The phrase ‘Once upon a time’ also makes, the beginning of the poem sound like the poet is telling his son a story., , 2. What does the expression ‘feel at home’ mean? Does the poet ‘feel at home’ in the, situation he describes in this stanza?, , Ans: The expression ‘feel at home’ means to feel comfortable. No, the poet is not comfortable, with his situation. He leas that he would not be a very welcome guest if he becomes a frequent, visitor, even though he is told to ‘feel at home’ and to ‘come again’., , 3. _ The father and son in the poem represent two different periods of time. Elaborate., , Ans: The father, being an adult, represents the moder period in which people are false and, insincere and artificial. The son, a child, represents the good old days when people were, more natural, innocent, honest and childlike., , eT, Ways with Words Page 25, , ‘SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION, , 4. What does the father wish for in stanza 6?, , Ans: The father wishes he could once again be what he used to be. He wishes to be his true self, again., , 5. What has the poet forgotten and what is his desire?, , Ans: The poet has forgotten his true, natural self. He wants to relearn what he used to do in his, past