2 poems that deal with the theme of childhood

             I have decided to write about "once upon a time" by Gabriel Okara and "An Advancement In Learning" by Seamus Heaney" as two poems that deal with the theme of childhood. Both poems deal with the growing up of children into newer things, but both poets approach the issue differently. Gabriel Okara has chosen to write about the sincerity and naivety that children have, and the way that growing up in society makes you lose your innocence whereas Seamus Heaney has chosen to write as if he is a child overcoming a fear that he's had, and maturing and growing during the poem.
             "Once upon a time" is an emotional poem that stresses how growing older can change a person and how he wishes that he could still have the sincerity that he once had. Okara talks a lot about "they" and he is describing everyday people in present society that have lost their simplicity and naturalness, they have lost the natural world of their childhood. The poet describes how growing up separates a person from their true self and lets them become corrupted by a world of false appearances. The repetition of the word "they" adds to a more sinister note in the poem as the reader begins to see that the poet has no warmth or respect for "them". This reinforces the idea or the character that the poet is playing is an outsider in society.
             Throughout the poem, the poet describes how when he was growing up, he learned that to get anywhere is present society you have to conform, be hypocritical and take on false appearances. While growing up, the cold world intimidated the main character. He used to sense when people were being insincere and the superficial way in which they laughed because "they only laugh with their teeth" "while their ice block cold eyes" "search behind my shadow"
             The poet's character realizes that there is a vicious cycle occurring in th...

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