Oη¢є uρση α тιмє...!!!

Once upon a time, son

they used to laugh with their hearts

and laugh with their eyes;

but now they laugh with their teeth

while their ice block cold eyes

search behind my shadow,

 

There was a time indeeds

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, & when I come

again & feel

at home, once, twice

but there will be no thrice

for then I find doors shut on me.

 

So, I have learnt many things, son

I have learn to wear many faces

like dresses-home face, office face

Streetface, hostface, cocktailface,

with all their conforming smiles

like a fixed portrait smile

 

And I have learned, too,

to laugh with only my teeth

& 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; & 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 shake’s bare fangs!

 

So show me son

how to laugh; show me how

I used to laugh & smile

Once upon a time…when I was like you…!!!

  Gabriel Okara

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Its one of mah favorite poem, That I have read it in mah school days. Hope u like it too…!!!