Once Upon A Time was written by Gabriel Okara.

Gabriel Imomotimi Gbain Gbain Okara was born on April 21, 1921 in Nigeria. In his poems Okara shows his concerns for the ancient culture of Africa and how it is faced with Western culture source from Wikipedia. The message of the poem is that the persona is expressing his genuineness in wanting to change from the ways learned by their colonization. Two devices used by Gabriel Okara were Tone and Figurative Language. Tone was used to convey the message by showing the different tones of the persona. The poet uses they to show that the persona is distancing him from those who ruled over him. After the first three stanzas, we realize that the persona no longer was there they but he now talks about I, realizing that he is like one of them. In the end he makes a confession. Evidence paragraph 1, line 2 they used to laugh with their hearts shows the they issue. Paragraph 6, line 35 I want to be what I used to be. The figurative language conveys the message by using metaphors and similes throughout the poem. Evidence paragraph 1, line 5.while their ice-cold-block eyes. Are a metaphor, paragraph 4, and line 21. Like dresses-home face is a simile. Also paragraph 4, line 24. Like fixed portrait smile. Is a simile? Lastly paragraph 10, line 39 shows only my teeth like bare fangs! is a simile. The significance of the last two lines are that the persona is telling his son that he wants to change from how he is to how he used to be.

Name: Kimberly Shay Date: February 10, 2010 Form:9A

Teacher: Mrs. Roxbourgh Subject: English Literature