The poem “Once Upon a Time” by Gabriel Okara explores themes of innocence, nostalgia, and the painful loss of sincerity in human relationships. In this reflective piece, Okara contrasts the speaker’s childhood experiences with the harsh realities of adulthood, expressing disillusionment with the change in people’s behavior. Understanding the tone and mood in the poem can help us better appreciate the emotional depth and meaning of the speaker’s sentiments.
Tone in “Once Upon a Time”
The tone of a poem refers to the attitude or approach the poet adopts towards the subject matter or audience. In “Once Upon a Time”, the tone is melancholic, nostalgic, and reflective. The speaker reflects on the past, recalling a time when interactions were genuine, unguarded, and filled with warmth. However, this memory is contrasted with the present, where interactions have become superficial and insincere.
- Melancholic tone: The speaker feels a sense of loss, longing for a simpler, more honest time in their life. This is shown through phrases like “I have learned to wear many faces” and “They used to laugh with their hearts”—indicating how the authenticity of relationships has been replaced by facades.
- Nostalgic tone: The speaker yearns for the innocence of childhood, when people genuinely smiled, laughed, and communicated. This is reinforced by the phrase “Once upon a time”, which alludes to fairy tales, signifying an idealized and simpler past.
- Reflective tone: The speaker meditates on the transformation they have undergone over the years, questioning the loss of authenticity and human connection.
Mood in “Once Upon a Time”
The mood of a poem refers to the emotional atmosphere or feeling that the reader experiences while reading the poem. In “Once Upon a Time”, the mood can be described as sad, nostalgic, and thoughtful.
- Sad mood: The sadness in the poem arises from the realization that human interactions have become increasingly insincere and superficial. The speaker laments the change in people, as the laughter and smiles that once symbolized warmth now seem forced or fake.
- Nostalgic mood: The speaker fondly remembers a time when things were genuine, and there was purity in the way people interacted with each other. This mood is conveyed through references to the past and the yearning for a return to simpler times.
- Thoughtful mood: The poem also evokes a sense of contemplation, as the speaker reflects on their own transformation and how they have adapted to a world that no longer values authenticity. The poem invites the reader to think deeply about the nature of human relationships and how they have evolved over time.
Tone and Mood in the Poem
The tone and mood work together to create an emotional and contemplative atmosphere in “Once Upon a Time”. The melancholic and reflective tone invites the reader to consider the disconnection between the innocence of childhood and the disillusionment of adulthood. Meanwhile, the sad and nostalgic mood adds an emotional layer, urging readers to empathize with the speaker’s yearning for a time when sincerity was valued.
Through these elements, Okara effectively conveys the loss of genuine human connection, encouraging readers to reflect on their own relationships and the changes that have occurred over time. The poem serves as a poignant reminder of the innocence that may be lost in the transition from childhood to adulthood, and how society’s increasing superficiality may affect personal bonds.
In Gabriel Okara’s “Once Upon a Time”, the tone is melancholic, nostalgic, and reflective, while the mood is sad, nostalgic, and thoughtful. The poem’s emotional depth is conveyed through these elements, emphasizing the speaker’s longing for a more sincere and heartfelt time in life. This combination of tone and mood makes the poem not only a reflection on personal change but also a critique of the superficiality that often characterizes modern life.