Once Upon a Time by Gabriel Okara ( Summary)

"Once Upon a Time" is a poem written by Gabriel Okara_ a.seven (7) stanza free verse with a simple diction.

The poem is about human nature and their behavior_ the poem speaker explains to his son about different times or era he or she had witnessed in relation or interaction with other people_ the first part of the poem is about how people were so sincere in their relationship with other. The other part of the poem tells of human insincerity and how the poem speaker also adopted the insincere way of relating with others.

The closing pert of the poem revealed the poem persona regret and wish to turn back the hands of time.

"Believe me son,

I want to be whst 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 fang!"

Gabriel Imomotimi Okara is a renowned Nigerian poets who lived between 1921 and 2019. Besides the poem "Once Upon a Time", he also wrote "Piano and Drums" and other countless contribution to the archive of African literature.

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Inner Voice (Spoken Word Poetry) by Samueldpoetry

 

Standing in front of me right now 

Spitting in the soil right now 

Molding the soil right now 

Rubbing the soil on my blindness of upliftment 

And yes! 

My upliftment is now crystal clear

Like a glass house in a mountain town

Success is sure

Scoring them back to back

Season upon seasons 

League upon league 

Banging the goals so easy pizzy

Happily shouting 

Suuuuuuuu!

As if I'm Cristina Ronaldo

Mercy!

Mercy!

Mercy!

I command mercy!

I invoke mercy!

I call on mercy!

Global mercy!

Award winning mercy!

From Barcelona to inter Miami 

To the world entirely I have mercy

My life is filled with mercy 

And goodness

Kiss me now 

Touch me now 

Arouse me with fulfillment of my destiny 

Hahahaha 

Abracadabra 

Crux sacra sit mihi lux

Non draco sit mihi dux

Vade retro satana

Abracadabra 

Abracadabra 

Abracadabra 

I posses my possession

Yeseraye!

Copyright © Samueldpoetry 

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"80 Years of Light" _for Dolly Parton — Aug 25, 2026_

She left on a Monday.  

August 25th.  

80 years.  

Not with a scream,  

but with the kind of quiet  

a porch light leaves behind  

when the morning finally comes.

Tennessee made her from mountain and melody.  

Dust on her boots, glitter in her voice.  

She walked out of Sevier County  

with nothing but a cardboard suitcase  

and a song she wrote on the way to Nashville.  

They said she was too much.  

Too big. Too blonde. Too country.  

So she became more.  

She wrote "Jolene" at 24  

and gave the whole world permission  

to be scared of losing what they love.  

She wrote "I Will Always Love You"  

and then let it go  

so someone else could sing it to the sky.  

That’s the kind of woman she was.  

She didn’t hold songs hostage.  

She set them free.

She wore wigs like armor  

and rhinestones like prayer.  

Made herself a cartoon  

so little girls and big men  

would both have to look.  

And while they were looking,  

she was building libraries.  

1 book a month.  

For kids who didn’t have any.  

Because she remembered  

what it felt like to have nothing  

but stories.

She didn’t preach.  

She just showed up.  

Disaster relief.  

Vaccines.  

Paychecks for workers when the music stopped.  

“Coat of Many Colors” wasn’t just a song.  

It was how she lived.  

80 years.  

And not one of them wasted on bitterness.  

She laughed through the rumors.  

She worked through the pain.  

She loved through it all.  

Today the Grand Ole Opry is quieter.  

The radio will play her anyway.  

Because voices like hers don’t die.  

They just stop needing a body to carry them.

So tonight, if you miss her,  

put on a record.  

Sing off-key.  

Donate a book.  

Tip your waitress.  

And remember:  

You can be from nowhere  

and still belong to everyone.  

You can be soft  

and still be steel.  

You can be Dolly.  

Rest now, Miss Parton.  

The stage lights are off.  

But the light you left?  

That one stays on.

Au revoir.

Copyright © Samueldpoetry 

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She's Dead

 

Did you know I hate elegy?

Did you know I am not a fan of tragedy?

Did you know anytime I narrate tragedy or elegy I do it in sorrow mood?

Did you know or you did not know?

Did you know there used to a beautiful lady named Examination?

Did you know she was like a judge in a law court?

Did you know she was like a decider of fate?

Did you know or you did not know?

How come you didn't know Miss Examination is already dead?

How come you didn't know Miss Examination had been battling illnesses?

How did it all started and deteriorated only to lead to death?

When Miss Examination was wallowing in an unhygienic environment, what help did you render?

When Miss Examination was battling insomnia, what help did you render?

When Miss Examination was battling kidney failure, what help did you render?

What help exactly, tell me what help did you render?

Did you know she finally died of cancer?

Did you know the virus that sped up her cancer belong to the family of Artificial Intelligent?

Did you know too much AI was forcefully injected into her, and broke her immune system?

Did you know or you did not know?

Do you agree that all breathing nostrils are to be blamed for her death?

Including you listening to me or do you want exempt yourself?

Do you not know that I know that you know that sooner or later Miss Examination won't survive?

Did you know Miss Examination is dead, she's dead, finally dead, but yet to be buried?

Did you know that anytime you see her, what you're seeing is a ghost?

Did you know we are in great danger if we choose burial rather than her resurrection?

Did you know or you did not know?

The choice now is; do we bury Miss Examination or put in the work to resurrect her?

Copyright © Samueldpoetry 

https://mynaijapoets.blogspot.com

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Pill In The Pillow Cases

They will look at you and say

My friend

You're not doing it right 

You're not wise with them

At all, at all 

Let me advice you 

They are like flies

To the wound on the leg

They'll come buzzing 

To an enticement, they're easily attracted 

When you lure her into your bed

She will be pregnant

And the marriage is set

Mr Adviser,

What a foolish advice is that? 

In this era of "prevention-is-better-than-cure"

where unwanted pregnancy is a blatant lie

Any lady pregnant is pregnant at will

To make you the father of her child 

Or the father of someone else's child in disguise

So know this and know peace 

In this life

Where contraceptive is next Jesus

They chew pills more than

They chew bubblegum 

In their tea, there is pill

In their rice, there is pill

In their fries, there is pill

They order meal, they order pill 

Pill in the drawer 

Pill in the bags

Pill in the pillow cases 

Postpill

Postinor-2

Sendinor

Chloramphenicol+lemon+Mountain-Dew+bitter-leaf

In case the condom couldn't 

Or menstrual miscalculated 

Or mestrogen became immune 

All these rat and the trap matter

Na another Wahala e go later cause

The self-induced burden of 

Nursing and nurturing in poverty and pain

And adding salt to the existing economic injury.

© Samueldpoetry 

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The Frozen Eggs

 

(243) ______ THE FROZEN EGGS _____

Women with frozen eggs 

Are the Warren Buffett of fertility investment 

For future dividend.

Even in their forties, 

In their mid-fifties,

Il n'y a pas de quoi s'inquiéter

(There's nothing to worry about)

They can give birth anytime 

Young lady

A stitch in time saves nine

Consultation and testing 

The steps towards your secured fertility. 

Ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, and vitrification 

Twenty mature eggs kept 

Would make them a mom whenever needed

Their destiny's in their hands

Ignorance is not an excuse 

To be more enlightened 

Go read the book:

"When Time Runs Out" (Adeola Olunloyo).

Samuel C Enunwa aka samueldpoetry.

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Young Africa's Please by Dennis Osadebay

 

____ Young Africa's Plea ____

Don't preserve my customs

As some fine curios

To suit some white historian's tastes.

There's nothing artificial

That beats the natural way,

In culture and ideals of life.

Let me play with the white man's ways,

Let me work with the black man's brains,

Let my affairs themselves sort out.

Then in sweet rebirth

I'll rise a better man,

Not ashamed to face the world.

Those who doubt my talents

In secret fear my strength;

They know I am no less a man.

Let them show their noble sides,

Let me have untrammelled growth.

My friends will never know regret

And I, never once forget.

© Copyright DENNIS OSADEBAY 

About the Poet:-

This poet is a Nigerian classic author and a philanthropist. He was, at a point in his life, the Premier of the Mid-West Region of Nigeria. Osadebay was called to Bar after receiving his university education in the United Kingdom.

About the Poem:-

This is a 19 line poem with a very simple diction. 

The voice of the poem clamored for authenticity as an African while synergizing with the western adopted culture.

The line 13 and 14 revealed the power and strength hidden in being authentic: "Those who doubt my talents/ In secret fear my strength"

One of the dominant poetic devices in the poem is the use of refrain. Few instance is the use of "Let me..." in multiple lines in the poem.

The background of the poem relates to the early post-independent era in Nigeria.

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Redemption Road by Elma Shaw (Chapter 15 Summary)

Introduction 

This post is driven by the willingness to summarize the chapter 15 of the novel titled "Redemption Road by Elma Shaw" hopefully to be beneficial to those seeking information regarding the work of art. 

Chapter 15 Summary 

"Moses Varney watched Calvin drive away from Bendu's house".

In the chapter 15 of the Novel "Redemption Road by Elma Shaw", Moses Varney (formally Commander Cobra) plotted a plan to kidnap Bendu Lewis.

By 8:05pm, he was already lurking around in the dark, in company of Weah. He instructed Weah to act as a taxi driver in order to enable smooth kidnap of Bendu Lewis. 

They drove her away to the beach after blindfolding her.

"Not too long after the hill slide out, they made a left turn and drove distance for a little over half the mile before they turned towards the beach and parked, facing the ocean. The moon lit up the black water and strong little waves Pounded on to the shore. The tide was in, so the water came up almost all the way to the road that ran along the beach".

Conclusion 

The chapter 15 is about Bendu Lewis kidnap. If you want to add your opinion, kindly use the comment box below. Do share this post to all social media platforms via the social media share button on this blog.

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The Marriage of Anansewa by Efua Sutherland (Act One Summary)

Introduction 

This post is to summarize the Act One of the drama book title "the Marriage of Anansewa by Efua T. Sutherland. Hopefully to be useful for the students of Literature-In-English and fans of literature in general. 

Act One Summary

The scene opens with Ananse entering his home, soaked from the rain. He has bought some typing materials to write letters to the suitors he had chosen for Anansewa, his only daughter.

 Anansewa comes in shortly after her father calls for her attention. She is all dressed up, ready to go out, but her father persuades her to stay and type the letters. 

The letters are typed according to Ananse's preference: the first letter is addressed to Chief Sapaase, the second one to TogbeKlu IV of Akate, the third to Chief of the Mines, and the fourth and final one to Chief-Who-Is-Chief. The first three letters are similar in tone and content, but the last one is different. It is more personal and emotional, because Ananse prefers Chief-Who-Is-Chief to the others.

When Anansewa is done typing the letters, her father gives her the sum of 120 cedes, which he says is her school fees for the E. P. Secretarial School. The money is actually part of the cash gift from Chief-Who-Is-Chief. 

Anansewa soon realizes her father's scheme and protests against being sold into marriage. However, Ananse resorted to emotional blackmail, lamenting his poverty and how he struggles to cater for Anansewa. Anansewa cannot help but sympathize with his father, and she agrees reluctantly to accept the cash gift.

The scene was followed by a brief interlude of traditional musical performances known as Mboguo, followed by a conversation between a young couple, Akwesi and Akosua. This scene is to establish the fact that only the presentation of the head-drink gives a man the right to claim a woman as his wife. 

The final scene in the Act shows Ananse receiving more gifts from his daughter's suitors, specially, TogbeKlu IV, which is delivered to him by the Postman.

Conclusion 

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The Marriage of Anansewa by Efua T Sutherland (Synopsis)

 The Marriage of Anansewa by Efua T Sutherland is a four arts drama book about poverty, peer pressure, greediness and estreme parental control.

ANASEWA: The beautiful daughter of George Ananse, a very dubious man.

ANANSE: (with cunning): Supposing it isn't some old chief but the finely built glowing black, large-eyed, handsome as anything, courageous and famous Chief-Who-is-Chief?

Ananse the cunning spider man is the hero of count-less Ghanaian legends. But this Ananse gets entangled in his own web of deceit when his scheme to get rich quick backfires, and disaster stares him in the face. The only way out is for his daughter to die.

Efua T. Sutherland has done great deal to encourage the theatre in Ghana. She began the Ghana Experimental Theatre and the Ghana. Drama Studio, and has written many plays for adult and children, in-cluding Edufa. Also published in Drumbeat.

Efua Theodora Sutherland was a playwright and poet from Ghana who lived between 27 June 1924 and 2nd January 1996. Her most popular work of art is The Marriage of Anansewa (1975). 

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An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley (Synopsis)

Characters: (1) Arthur Birling (2) Sybil Birling_ his wife (3) Sheila Birling_ his daughter (4) Eric Birling_ his son (5) Edna_ the maid (6) Gerald Croft (7) Inspector Goole.

The Synopsis

All 3 Acts which are continuous, take place in the dining room of the Birling's house in Brumley, an industrial city in the North Midlands. It is an evening in spring 1912.

An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley, is a play that revolves around the suicide of a young woman called Eva Smith. In the play, the unsuspecting Birling family are visited by the mysterious Inspector Goole. He arrives just as they are celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling to Gerald Croft.

"Birling: That was the police. A girl has just died_ on her way to the Infirmary_ after swallowing some disinfectant. And a police inspector is on his way here_ to ask some_ question_ _ _"

The Author

John Boynton Priestley (3 September 1894 – 14 August 1984) was an English novelist, playwright, screenwriter, broadcaster and social commentator.

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Theme of African Culture in the Drama Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan

Introduction

One of the O-level examinations conducted just asked candidate to "Examine the theme of African Culture in the drama Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan". I have therefore taken it upon myself to answer the question for the benefit of candidates who might encounter similar question in the future.

Theme of African Culture in the drama Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan

 In the drama, there are many cultures affiliated with Africa_ most especially the Yoruba culture. Few of those are the African form of coronation, African way of primitive courtship, etc.

This enlightening work of art by Bosede Afolayan, showed how courting was been done in the time past within an African setting. A case study to point to is Odekunle and Desola. They were lovers; they always rendezvous in the bush, path to the streams and under farm trees. Whenever they meet, they chat romantically while discussing their wedding plans and blah blah blah.

Another instance of African Cultural promotion in "Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan" is the process towards the coronation of Olaniyonu (aka Ajanaku). It was noted in the drama, how Serubawon was constantly fortifying him with libations, inca Intations, and charms_ as that he could reign like a demigod.

Conclusion:

Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan is a tragic drama about greedy quest for power. The author or playwright is a Nigerian and a teacher of language.

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Stone Child and Other Poems by Syl Cheney-Coker (Synopsis)

Introduction:-

Stone Child and Other Poems by Syl Cheney-Coker is an anthology that embodies the poem "The Breast of the Sea by Syl Cheney-Coker" and many other poems of his.

As already noted, "The Breast of the Sea" is one of the forty (40) poems in the anthology titled Stone Child and Other Poems published by the poet in the year 2008 with ISBN 9789780810672.

Synopsis:-

Stone Child is about the nameless gemstone child that became such a feature in the recent history of the poet’s country. Written with compassion and moral deliberation, the poems in the first section of this volume resound with the pain and love that the poet felt as he reflected on the tumultuous politics and tragic destiny of his beautiful land. The rest of the volume is in homage to people and places around the world that have also touched the poet deeply. It is Cheney-Coker at his most humane, while he was dealing with a personal tragedy during his most recent period in exile.

The list of poems in the book are: Homage to Stone Child, New Year in Freetown, 1999, Our Lady of Diamonds, When the Dead Talk, The Meaning of Our Rivers 1, The Meaning of Our Rivers 2, This Evening, Next Morning, The Breast of the Sea, Letters from Home, The Golden Chalice, Out of the Abyss, Old Rites, New Mirrors, Las Vegas Gothic, Short Tail, On Viewing Chris Ofili’s “Holy Virgin Mary”, All His White Hairs, Olodumare’s Clay, The Birds At the Harbourfront, The Orators, Harmonies, Death in New York, Sept 11, 1973 & 2001, Oceanic Cantabile, Turkish Diptych, Iranian Diptych, The Gods of the G-8 Summit, Lake Fire, To My Wife Dying of Cancer 1, To My Wife Dying of Cancer 2, Homecoming, New Frontier, Life Sketches, A Simple Lesson, Transition, Portraits of a family, The Madman Near the British High Commission in Freetown, Profit and Loss, The Nobel Tree Woman & Elegy For the Ebola Saint, Bitter Leaves, Widow(er)hood.     

The Author:-

Syl Cheney-Coker, Sierra Leonean poet and novelist. Author of three previous volumes: Concerto for an Exile; The Graveyard Also Has Teeth; and The Blood in the Desert’s Eyes. In 1991, he was awarded the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize (Africa’s Best Book Region), for his novel The Last Harmattan of Alusine Dumbar. He has also won Commonwealth Short Story Prize. His poetry has been translated into Spanish, Dutch, Russian, French, Portuguese and Chinese.    

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Redemption Road by Elma Shaw (Chapter 16 Review)

 Introduction

I'm posting this article to discuss the novel "Redemption Road by Elma Shaw (chapter 16 review)". This post will be very useful to those fan of literature.

Review of Chapter 16

Bendu Lewis eventually managed to escape from Varney.

Bendu knocked Varney down knowing he was weed-intoxicated and hallucinated. Bendu punched him in the throat to become unconscious. She seized his gun and with the possession of Varney's gun she ordered Weah to tie him.

She took the car-key for the taxi which they used to bring her hostage to the beach.

Instead of taking the taxi, she began running for her life "avoiding the bushy shortcuts in case someone would mistake her for a thief or in case she met a dead end, Bendu jogged steadily along the dusty road until she reached Tubman Boulevard."

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Ode To A Poet's Curtain

Ode to a Poets curtain

Eh,what a screen with a heavenly picture !
Picturing an artistic fixture.
Turning my bedroom to a museum of culture
That handsomely showcases the native of passion
With the exhibition of heavenly creatures;

Hi,you scattered lightening of illumination!
I embarrassingly cherish your illustration;          
What a great explanation!
For illuminating heaven's innovation;

Ho,you banana shaped fluorescence of harmony!
Harmonizing damsels as the heavenly legacy                
I marvel at such melody
Because he speak from memory ;

Hello,you specially carved image of passion!
Sitting on the harmonious banana fluorescence
With a crownlike beret of assertion ,
Wearing an angelic gown of emergence
Ribbonly embellished  for fashion ;
Miss passion,your comely face of continence
That never conceals emotion
By reproducing an alluring smile,
Romanticizing my soul with affection
From this curtain-screen.

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Cervical Cancer Prevention

EARLY CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION

Of all the things of my interest

Women I take to be the first

Women are gifts, women are pets

Women are still fragile elements

It pains when pains and sudden death

Cajole cancer to take their breaths

It is very important that

Women keep taking the Pap test

For all cervical cancer that leads to death

Destroy women with irregular Pap test

So if you can see this poem Mr Japhet

Take the message to all women on earth

And if you can see this poem lady Janet

Take the message to all women on earth

Health is wealth, don't ever forget

To maintain medical checkup and treatment

I love you all with all my breadths

And wish you sound health on earth.

Copyright © Samuel Enunwa aka samueldpoetry (05-01-2013)

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Raphael Beniitez

 Raphael Beniitez is a man of magic

Human within his practices

Sometimes strong and sometimes weak

Raphael Beniitez is a coach of coaches

Lives within the bricks

Of humility

Maturity

And vast experiences

And placards of hate

Don't make him.freak

And haters don't make him sick

Glories have been his

As well as match loses

Raphael Beniitez authenticity

Is seen in who he is

Football to Wenger is economics

Management of little resources

Football to Mourinho is mathematics

Four plus two is equal to six

Football to Beniitez is metaphysics

Theories and myths are mixed

With tactical analysis

As the gimmicks for making magic

No matter what you think

I'm here to stick to the fact that

Other coaching managers

Do not better Raphael Beniitez.

Copyright © Samuel Enunwa aka samueldpoetry (01-03-2013)

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The Remains of Raymond Hoe (Part 1)

THE REMAINS OF RAYMOND HOE

Fellow friends and fellow foes

Wait, let me tell this tale of woe

The way I know they wait below

Below my belly where they grow

For woe is me! My friends and foes

When I heard of Raymond Hoe

I screamed, I shouted no!

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

I've known Mr. Raymond Hoe

For ten and a year below

When we met at fashion show

He was nice, you should know

He was kind, and gently goes

He rhymingly uses o

Whenever he says hello

When I say to him also

“Good evening Mr. Hoe”

He says, “Hello, Mr. Sam o

How dey go dey go dey go?

How your wife and family o?

I hope they are all fine o.”

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

He was a one man Mopo

And used to wear polo

And loved to wear chino

And used to live solo

A divorcé, you should know

With no child no, no, no

With no kin no, no, no

With no pal no, no, no

But I thought with no foe

When I heard in my bungalow

When I heard this tale of woe

When I heard of Raymond Hoe

I screamed, I shouted no!

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

The very young Raymond Hoe

Who only had seven years to

Clock forty, you should know

You should know Mr. Hoe

He was an average fellow

He wasn't a rich fellow

He wasn't a poor fellow

He lived a room not a bungalow

To hide his head from mosquitoes

And the chills that always blow

Through the night to and fro

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

Two o'clock remained ten to

And the sun was in full glow

When they entered the room of Hoe

And found him lying solo

With his head on his pillow

Listening to music of Mario

 Through his ipodlike radio

Waiting beside his pillow

The earpiece hung above his lobe

Where he lay like log solo

Through his throat blood flow

Soaking Hoe from head to toe

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

Like goat, someone slaughtered Hoe

In his bed, on his pillow

But the murderer, I believe so

Sooner or later, you shall all know.

     Copyright ©  Samuel C. Enunwa July 21, 2011.

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Is This The Life You Wish For

 

Is This The Life You Wish For?

"Good things will come to you in ways you could never anticipate or expect. Yet if you're constantly placing judgment, conditions and restrictions on your life, you'll miss out on most of those good things."_ Ralph Marston.

Imagine if the bell refuses to suffer the pain
To be caused by its dangling scrotum
How will it ring for ritual to start?

Is this the life you wish for or not?
Reschedule your life
The life of muteness you must quit
And start making your desire show
To grow out of your hole
And quit lay low
For success is yours if you do so

The crickets are singing always by day
Do you notice?
The crickets knew they were not heard by day
They rescheduled it
So to be sang aloud and heard at night
And the tick tock of the wall clock
Is always a sweet song at night

So if still
You're still not living the life you wish for
You need still
To start reschedule your life adventure.

Samuel C. Enunwa aka samueldpoetry

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The Use of Juxtaposition In Once Upon A Time by Gabriel Okara

 Introduction

Let's look into the use of juxtaposition in the poem "Once Upon a Time by Gabriel Okara". This post is going to be of usefulness to anyone searching for: the central message in Once Upon a Time by Gabriel Okara, the structure of the poem Once Upon a Time by Gabriel Okara, Summary of the poem Once Upon a Time by Gabriel Okara, etc. 

The Poet

Gabriel Okara who lived between 24th of April, 1921 and 25th of March, 2019 was a Nigerian poet, novelist and a human right activist. Some scholars, among other qualities, consider him the first modernist poet of Anglophone Africa. Gabriel Okara was born in Bumoundi in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

One of Gabriel Okara's poem is on this table of discussion. The poem "Once Upon a Time by Gabriel Okara" is an eight stanza free verse that centered on the negative impact of human exposure in a corrupt society. It must be noted that the poem shares similarities with Piano and Drums by Gabriel Okara in terms of juxtaposition and nostalgia. 

The Use of Juxtaposition in the Poem 

The poet employed the use of juxtaposition to channel his message to the readers. While creating a climactic flow of narration, he juxtaposed his present with his past. 

Speaking of juxtaposition, there are two types of juxtaposition I noticed in the poem "Once Upon A Time by Gabriel Okara"_ the first is behavioral juxtaposition and the second is personality juxtaposition. 

Personality refers to an individual's unique pattern of thoughts, feelings, and tendencies that influence their behavior. It's the underlying framework that shapes how a person perceives, processes, and interacts with the world. Personality is relatively stable over time and across situations.

Behavior, on the other hand, refers to the specific actions or reactions a person exhibits in response to their environment, situation, or stimuli. Behavior can be influenced by personality, but it's also shaped by external factors like context, culture, and learning.

There are many behavioral juxtaposition in the poem starting from the beginning of the poem_ the first stanza down to the third stanza.

The poet revealed some forms of insincere or corrupt behaviors such as "they shake hands without hearts" while pretending "to shake hands with their hearts". 

Below is the stanza two of the poem, backing the claim of behavioral impurity the poet was complaining about:

"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."

In terms of personality juxtaposition, the poet compared his innocence with exposure. The voice of the poem, while narrating his ordeal to his little son, revealed that the society has built in him guilt, corruption, worldliness, cynicism, depravity; unlike when he was a little boy with innocence, purity, naivety, guilelessness, sincerity, innocuoness, virtue, cleanliness, and unblemished. 

A good instance of the personality juxtaposition can be found in stanza six and seven of the poem quoted below:

"And I have learned too

to laugh with only 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 talking 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!"

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