Critical Appreciation of the poem " Once Upon a Time"

The poem " Once Upon A Time" is written in the context of Nigerian independence from Britain. Like we
Indians, Nigerians were too colonialized and had too perish under British rule until the culmination of
colonialism. Britishers came to Nigeria and introduced their administration, culture, religion , way of
living etc. These newly introduced behaviors gradually started to gnaw off the traditional Nigerian
culture and Western culture had emjoyed its heyday. In this context, the poem exposes what happens
to the traditional African culture when colabs with Modern Western culture.

After gaining its independence, Nigeria was a completely independent country furnished with their
own government. There was no outsider to dictatel them. But they forgot their own culture, manner,
religion, etc. Their habits and motives were seemed to be the resultant of western influences . Hence,
their minds occupied by Western thoughts and beliefs. Here, Okara desires to regain or restore
traditional culture. He is totally disappointed in the current situation of the Africans.

Okara compares the mentality of the Africans before and after colonialism. He is emphasizing upon the
vast gap between the old and the new generation of indegenous Africans that feels really troublesome
to bridge up.Okara says that most of the adults are hypocritic and are contrastimg their own
youngselves.They have different faces for different occasions, like homeface, officeface, streetface,
hostface, cocktailface, etc. They change behaviour just like changing their attires. The man behind the
mask is hard to decode. Furthermore, they cheat, lie, betray whereas childhood is the expression of
honest and sincere laughter. Children are sincere and genuine because they are not corrupted by the
current norms and manners of society. People are so eager to get rid of someone else although
superficially that very person is asked to stay. People behave so artificially and with a fake smile only for
promoting their self interest or to exhibit their status quo. They don't have much time to spend with
others and don't even feel the need of one's companion. Matetial prosperity glares their identity and
existence too.People are learned to shake hand without heart. Every act of a human being became too
mechanical.

In the last part of the poem, Okara says that he wishes to unlearn what is taught by the society and
wants to relearn the traditional African manners and practices. He desires to be the man that he used to
be. So he pleads to his young son to show him or to teach him how to laugh and smile sincerely. "Once
upon a Time I was just like you"
Once upon a Time is composed in the mood or tone of nostalgia. The poet is recalling the good old days
which is now distorted .He wishes to go back to his past and past Nigeria. Because there was true love,
care, and compassion in the mind of people. He is no more happy with the present society.

To focus on the technical aspects of the poem , its a poem of 43 lines with seven stanzas. Okara uses
smilies in different lines which is a figure of speech, a direct comparison of one thing with another thing
of a different kind by using 'as' or 'like'. Example to jot down here-

"I have learned to wear many faces

like dresses- homeface,

Officeface, streetface, hostface.."

This is the direct comparison of two things. He compares face with a dress. People change their
behaviour or face based on the situation just like changing our dress. He too compares his artifical ,
emotionless smile that mostly exhibits his teeth with the fangs of a snake and provides another instance
of simile- "I want to relearn how to laugh, for my in the mirror

Shows only my teeth like a snake's bare fangs!"

The poem abounds in imagery that reveals violence, greed and plunder. “Iceblock cold eyes” shows the
utter lack of warmth in people and “laugh with their teeth” brings alive the grin of a person who is
actually thinking malicious thoughts. ‘Search behind my shadow” and “search my empty pockets”
recreate the image of a ruthless robber stealing from empty pockets i.e. poor and deprived people. The
images also reveal the aggression, fraud and embezzlement which in a way signifies modern day futility.