Part B — Poetry
Poem 4: Once Upon a Time
Class 12 General English | PSEB | A Rainbow of English
Poet: Gabriel Okara
1. Central Idea of the Poem
In “Once Upon a Time,” Gabriel Okara expresses sadness over the loss of sincerity, innocence and genuine human relationships in modern society. The speaker tells his son that people once laughed sincerely, shook hands warmly and spoke honestly. Now, however, they often hide their real feelings behind artificial smiles and polite words.
The poet criticises the hypocrisy and pretence of adults who behave differently according to social situations. They say things they do not mean and show friendliness without genuine affection. The speaker admits that he too has learned these artificial ways of behaving.
He wishes to return to the innocence and honesty he possessed in childhood. He asks his son to teach him how to laugh and smile naturally again. The poem contrasts the sincerity of childhood with the insincerity of adult society and expresses a desire to recover genuine human feelings.
The central message is that people should value honesty, sincerity and natural emotions instead of hiding behind false smiles and social pretences.
2. Comprehension and Enjoyment
Q1. Give the central idea of the poem.
Answer:
The poem highlights the loss of sincerity and innocence in modern society. The poet remembers a time when people laughed genuinely, shook hands warmly and expressed their feelings honestly. As adults, however, people often pretend to be friendly, wear artificial smiles and say things they do not really mean. The speaker admits that he too has adopted these habits and wishes to return to the honesty and spontaneity of childhood. He asks his son to teach him how to laugh and smile sincerely again. The poem encourages us to reject hypocrisy and preserve genuine human feelings.
Q2. Read the given lines and answer the questions that follow.
“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.”
(a) Who is the speaker in the poem?
Answer: The speaker is a father addressing his son. He reflects on how he has learned to behave insincerely in adult society and wishes to recover the genuine emotions of his childhood.
(b) What has the poet learned to do with his feelings?
Answer: The poet has learned to hide his true feelings and pretend to be friendly. He smiles without genuine happiness, shakes hands without warmth and uses polite expressions even when he feels differently. His words and actions no longer reflect his real emotions.
(c) What is the meaning of “laughing with only my teeth”?
Answer: “Laughing with only my teeth” means smiling or laughing artificially without genuine happiness. The person shows a smile on the outside, but the smile does not express what he truly feels inside.
(d) What kind of life is the poet living?
Answer: The poet is living an artificial and insincere social life. He has learned to hide his emotions behind false smiles, empty greetings and polite expressions. He feels unhappy with this behaviour and longs to return to a more honest and natural way of living.
Q3. Read the given lines and answer the questions that follow.
“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!”
(a) Whom is the poet talking to?
Answer: The poet is talking to his son. He addresses the boy because he sees in him the innocence, honesty and natural happiness that he has lost as an adult.
(b) What are the things the poet wants to unlearn?
Answer: The poet wants to unlearn the artificial habits he has acquired in adult society. These include:
- Laughing without genuine happiness.
- Shaking hands without sincere affection.
- Using polite words without meaning them.
- Pretending to be glad when meeting someone.
- Hiding his true feelings behind artificial smiles.
- Behaving according to social expectations instead of expressing his real emotions.
He wants to replace these habits with honesty, sincerity and natural feelings.
(c) What does the poet compare his own laugh to?
Answer: The poet compares his laugh to a snake’s bare fangs. His reflection in the mirror reveals a smile that looks artificial, cold and frightening rather than warm and joyful. This comparison emphasises how far he has moved from genuine happiness.
(d) Write the significance of the title “Once Upon a Time”.
Answer: The title “Once Upon a Time” refers to the past, when the speaker believes people behaved more sincerely and expressed their feelings naturally. The phrase is traditionally used to begin stories about the past, especially fairy tales. In this poem, it introduces the speaker’s memories of a time when laughter, greetings and friendship were genuine. The title also highlights the contrast between the innocence of the past and the artificial behaviour of the present. It expresses the speaker’s longing to recover the sincerity he has lost.
3. Important Points for Revision
- The poem is written by Gabriel Okara, a Nigerian poet.
- The speaker is a father addressing his son.
- The poem contrasts childhood innocence with the hypocrisy of adult society.
- People often hide their true feelings behind false smiles and polite expressions.
- “Laughing with only my teeth” means laughing without genuine happiness.
- “Shaking hands without my heart” suggests a lack of sincere affection.
- The comparison with a snake’s bare fangs shows that the speaker’s smile has become artificial and unpleasant.
- The speaker wants to unlearn artificial social habits and relearn genuine laughter.
- The title refers to the speaker’s memories of a more sincere past.
Exam preparation tip: Remember the main contrast: childhood sincerity versus adult hypocrisy. Use examples from the poem—false smiles, insincere greetings and the snake’s bare fangs—to support your answers.