Themes in “Once Upon a Time” by Gabriel Okara
“Once Upon a Time” is a poem by Gabriel Okara, a Nigerian Poet and Novelist. It is one of the recommended African poems for WAEC Literature in English 2026-2030. The tone of the poem is reflective, as the writer reminisces on what used to be and how societal norms have changed over the years. This article discusses the themes in “Once Upon a Time”, a poem by Gabriel Okara.
Here are the Literary devices used in the poem, Once Upon a Time.
Themes in “Once Upon a Time” by Gabriel Okara
1. Distrust, Deception, and Insincerity
The speaker in the poem makes it clear that the societal norms favour false appearances and people know deep within them that the words and actions put forth before them are insincere. Therefore, they search behind the façade to uncover the real person or the truth of the situation.
"Once upon a time, son,
they used 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"
(Satnza 1, Lines 1-6)
The poem goes on to show that people lack genuine connection with each other and this is the basis of distrust amongst them. Values that promote trust, connection, and sincerity have been eroded. Deception is the order, so people do not say what they think and do not show what they feel.
"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."
(Stanza 2, Lines 7-12)
2. Conformity to societal norms
Despite despising the insincerity and distrust it breeds, the writer admits conforming to the expectations to survive so much so that he has to learn to wear different faces.
"So I have learned many things, son.
I have learned to wear many faces
like dresses—homeface,
officeface, streetface, hostface,
cocktailface, with all their conforming smiles
like a fixed portrait smile."
(Stanza 4, Lines 19-24)
Deception has become normal accepted as a way of life. The writer also admits to have learned the behavior and living it as a way of life. However, he is not oblivious of the effects of the attitudes he has adopted to himself and others around him.
“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”.
(Stanza 5, Lines 28-32)
The effect of the conformity described is so dire that the writer admits that over time, he had forgotten what it is like to laugh, love, and share genuinely. He believes his laughs are now pretense and he described it as showing “teeth like a snake’s bare fangs”. He wishes to relearn to laugh with his eyes and shake hands with his heart.
"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!"
(Stanza 6, Lines 33-39)
These behaviours the writer admits are learned and have become what is accepted. There is a hint that the change in acceptable norms is a thing that comes with adulthood and a hint that the change in general societal norms is due to an external factor. Whichever the case, it is clear that “once upon a time”, it was not so. There was genuineness, individuality, sincerity, trust, etc.
3. Loss of Innocence
The poem opens with “once upon a time a time, son” (line 1), clearly indicating that this reflection is being told to a younger person, a person who has not undergone the metamorphosis and still has childlike innocence. The writer affirms that he used to be like the son but is no more. He also states that he wishes to become like the son again. To buttress the changes, effects, and desires, the poem closes with “once upon a time when I was like you” (line 43).
It is evident throughout the poem that the message is for the son to see through life from the experience of a father. Childish things fade away as life happens. However, there are things considered childish that the writer affirms are the things that make life worth living, foster connectivity, and enable humanity to thrive and coexist in harmony. Those things can be seen in the warmth we share, how we laugh, and greet each other. These he says have been lost and replaced with false faces and pretentious acts. He not only hints at the innocence of the son but also tells of his loss of innocence and desire to regain the essence.
“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!”
(Stanza 6, Lines 33-39)
“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.”
(Stanza 7, Lines 40-43)
4. Cultural Change
The opening and closing of the poem with the expression, “once upon a time” shows clearly that there was a time when the things the author spoke about were not and what he craved was. The different stanzas point to the loss of sincerity and authenticity as something that was eroded either by coming of age or by the influence of an external factor on the culture of the people.
"Once upon a time, son,
they used 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"
(Satnza 1, Lines 1-6)
The writer displays sadness as he recounts the changes to the “son”, to whom the person the poem is addressed.
5. Nostalgia and a Longing for the Past
The writer refers to the past in retrospect as a time when things were simpler and genuine. He describes the past as a time “people laughed with their heart”. He makes the listener feel the warmth and the sense of belonging such a time created which is now lost. He longed for this time so much that he wished to go back, to become who he used to be, to experience life again from that perspective.
“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.”
(Stanza 6, Lines 33-36)
This links to the loss of innocence and has developed as the writer experiences life in his newly conformed self. Appraising the life he now lives and the one he used to live brought this yearning to the fore. He clearly states that he wishes to unlearn the attitudes that orchestrated the loss of the simplicity and authenticity of childhood and youth.
Conclusion
The central theme in the poem, “Once Upon a Time” is loss of innocence. Other themes in “Once Upon a Time” include cultural change, conformity to societal norms, deception, and insincerity people show in interactions.
The writer reviews his memories of how things were in his childhood and youthful days and longs to go back to those days when things were simpler and more genuine.
The writer with skill and experience wove together a piece to call attention to the erosion of values and the acceptance of false-face as a way of doing things.
Did you identify any other themes in “Once Upon a Time”? Share in the comment section
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