Once upon a time

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-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 hands search
my empty pockets.

'Feel at home', 'Come again',
they say, and when I come
again and feel
at home, once, twice,
there will be no thrice -
for then I find doors shut on me.

So I have learned many things, son.
I have learned to wear many faces
like dresses -  home face,
office face, street face,  host face
cocktail face, with all their conforming smiles like a
fixed portrait smile.

And I have learned, too
to laugh with only my teeth
and shake hand 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.

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!
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.

Written by Gabriel Okara