The poem is a conversation between a father and son. In it, the father laments how people in modern times laugh and interact without sincerity or emotion, displaying only fake smiles. He has learned to wear different "faces" and act without heart in order to conform to societal expectations. However, the father wants to relearn how to laugh and interact genuinely, as he used to in his youth. He asks his son to show him how to laugh from the heart again.

1. HER FACE EXPRESSES THAT SHE IS HAPPY

2. ANGRY
HIS FACE EXPRESSES THAT HE IS ANGRY.

3. SAD
HER FACE EXPRESSES THAT SHE IS SAD.

4. AFRAID
HIS FACE EXPRESSES THAT HE IS AFRAID.

5. JEALOUS
HER FACE EXPRESSES THAT SHE IS JEALOUS.

6. SAD ANGRY
AFRAID
JEALOUS
HAPPY
THE FEELINGS OF THE HEART IS EXPRESSED IN
OUR FACE.

7. LAUGH
OUR FEELINGS CAN BE EXPRESSED IN OUR WAY
OF SMILING.

8. GABRIEL OKARA

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. ‘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.

12. So I have learnt 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.

13. And I have learned, too,
to laugh with only my teeth
and shake hands without my
heart.

14. 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.

15. 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!

16. 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.

17. Complete the sentences by choosing correct alternative:
1) The poem begins with a conversation between ……..
a) husband and wife
b) father and son
c) friends
d) mother and daughter
2) According to the poet, the people of the modern world laugh with their
……
a) Heart
b) emotions
c) teeth
d) sorrows
3) The poet has learned …….
a) to wear many faces
b) the manners of the time
c) to express the feelings
d) to shake the hand

18. 4) The poet wants to relearn…………
a) how to laugh sincerely.
b) how to hide the real face.
c) manners of the modern time.
d) modern ways of greeting.
5) The poet compares teeth with…………
a) ice blocks
b) snake’s bare fangs
c) portrait smile
d) cocktail faces

26. APPRECIATION QUESTIONS:
“Once upon a time, son”
1.What do you associate with the title of the
poem?
The title of the poem is like a
fairy tale.
2. What is the relationship between the
narrator and the listener?
Father and son.

27. But now they only laugh with their teeth,
3.Who are “they”?
They are people of modern days.
4. Explain “laugh with their teeth”?
To fake a laugh without
emotions.

28. While their ice – block – cold –eyes”:
5.Explain “ice – block – cold – eyes”?
Eyes lacking the feeling of
warmth.
6. Identify the figure of speech?
Metaphor.

29. And I have learned, too,
to laugh with only my teeth
and shake hands without my heart :
7.Explain “left hands search my empty
pockets”?
Evaluating the narrator’s worth
and power.
8. How is their handshake?
Their handshake have
become fake.

30. at home, once, twice,
there will be no thrice—
for then I find doors shut on me :
9.What happens to the poet when he visits
someone for the third time?
The doors will shut, if he visits
thrice .
10. Whom does “I” refer to?
“I” refers to the poet.

31. cocktail face, with all their conforming smiles
like a fixed portrait smile :
11.How does the poet compare his face?
The poet compares his face to a
portrait .
12. Explain “cocktail face”. Find the figure of
speech ?
Face shows mixed
emotions. Simile.

32. 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!:
13.Why does the poet wants to relearn how
to laugh?
The poet wants to show his real
feelings.
14. Whom does the poet want to relearn?
Find the figure of speech?
The poet wants to relearn
from his son. Simile.

33. 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.:
15.What does the poet long for?
The poet longs for child like
innocence.
16. Mention the qualities the child in the
poem symbolises?
Innocence and Ignorance.