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-block 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 - homeface,

officeface,streetface,hostface,

with all their confirming smiles

like a fixed portrait smile.

And I have learned too

to laugh only with my teeth 

and shake hands 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 taking 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.