Once Upon a Time

The phrase “Once upon a time” frames the past almost like a fairy tale, suggesting that genuine human connection now feels distant or even unreal. “Laugh with their hearts” and “eyes” implies emotional unity, where inner feeling and outward expression were aligned. This establishes sincerity as something holistic, not performative, immediately setting up the contrast with the present.

The metaphor "ice-block-cold eyes" implies more than lack of warmth. Ice is rigid and lifeless, suggesting that emotional responsiveness has been replaced with calculation. The separation between “teeth” and “eyes” creates a fracture between appearance and reality. “Search behind my shadow” suggests suspicion and material evaluation, where even superficial presence is not enough. Human interaction becomes investigative and transactional, reinforcing societal distrust and loss of authenticity.

“Shake hands with their hearts” represents trust and sincerity embedded in simple gestures. The repetition of past-tense phrasing emphasizes permanence of loss. “That’s gone” is blunt and final, showing that this shift is not temporary but systemic.

The metaphor "search my empty pockets" exposes hidden motives. The handshake, traditionally a sign of trust, is now paired with opportunism. The detail of “left hands” implies secrecy and dishonesty, suggesting that exploitation occurs simultaneously with politeness. Relationships are reduced to economic assessment, linking directly to materialistic societal values.

The repetition of polite phrases reveals performative hospitality. The numerical progression “once, twice… no thrice” mimics a pattern of conditional acceptance. The sudden closure of doors exposes how quickly inclusion turns into exclusion once the speaker is deemed unworthy. This reflects a society governed by utility rather than genuine connection.

The simile "like dresses" suggests identity is something worn and changed depending on context, implying loss of a stable self. The listing of different “faces” shows fragmentation of identity across social spaces. The simile "like a fixed portrait smile" conveys stiffness and artificiality, where expression is controlled and frozen rather than natural. The speaker is no longer authentic but curated.

The speaker admits full assimilation into the very behaviour he criticizes. This is not just observation but transformation. It highlights how societal pressure forces individuals to abandon sincerity in order to function.

The repetition of polite phrases exposes language as a tool of deception. Words are detached from meaning, turning communication into performance. This deepens the theme of appearance vs reality, where even speech is no longer trustworthy.

“Muting things” suggests that societal behaviour suppresses genuine emotion and expression. The desire to “unlearn” implies that insincerity is acquired, not natural, reinforcing the contrast between childhood innocence and adult corruption.

The simile "like a snake’s bare fangs" associates his smile with deceit and danger. The mirror introduces self-awareness. He recognizes that his outward expression no longer reflects his inner self. The transformation is complete and disturbing, as he has become what he once despised.

The ending reverses authority, placing the child as the source of truth. The repetition of “show me” conveys desperation. Returning to “Once upon a time” reinforces that sincerity now feels unreachable, closing the poem with unresolved longing.