Once Upon a Time

The poem contrasts authentic emotions

The poem contrasts authentic emotions and actions of the past with the superficial, calculated behaviors of modern society. People once 'laughed with

The poet illustrates how society has

The poet illustrates how society has changed from a time when people genuinely cared for each other to an era where relationships are often based on m

The father describes learning to 'wear

The father describes learning to 'wear many faces like dresses' - having different personas for different situations (homeface, officeface, streetface

The poem presents childhood as

The poem presents childhood as a state of natural honesty and innocence, which gets corrupted as one grows up and learns societal behaviors. The fathe

Okara uses satire to criticize modern

Okara uses satire to criticize modern society's artificial behaviors. Through exaggeration and irony, he highlights the absurdity of saying 'Glad to m