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. Gabriel Okara
About This Quote

In this quote, the author of this poem is comparing humanity to the world of nature, particularly the world of animals. In modern days, many people have lost their ability to laugh with their hearts and eyes. In simpler times, when people laughed with their hearts and eyes they would also shake hands. Today, however, people have lost that ability.

This loss is a shame. It was with their hearts that people built a better world, a world of love and compassion.

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