Written by Gabriel Okpara
(1921–2019)
I just came across one of the most beautiful poems I have ever read, Written by Gabriel Okpara, I used to mimic it in my secondary school days. I hope it will bless some one’s relationship today.
ONCE UPON A TIME.
Once upon a time, son
they use 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 hand search
My empty pockets.
“feel at home”, “come again”, They say,
and when I come again and fell at home, once, twice,
There will be no thrice
for then I found the door shut on me.
So I have learnt to wear many faces
like dresses – Home face, office face, street face, host face, cocktail face with all their confirming smile.
like fixed portrait smile.
And I have learnt too,
to laugh without my heart
and shake hands without my heart
I have also learnt to say “good bye”,
when I mean “Good riddance”,
to say “Glad to meet you”
without being glad, ànd to say it’s been nice talking with 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 mirror show only my teeth like a snake’s bare fang!
So show me, son
how to laugh and smile
once upon a time when I was like you.
Shouldn’t we learn from our children how we use to be like them,
Once upon a time?
