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
Question 1: What does the speaker ask the son to show them in the stanza?
Answer: The speaker asks the son to show them how to laugh and smile, as they used to do once upon a time when they were like the son.
Question 2: What does the speaker imply about their current state compared to the past?
Answer: The speaker implies that they have lost the ability to laugh and smile naturally, suggesting a sense of nostalgia for their past self when they were more carefree and joyful.
Question 3: Which literary technique is evident in the phrase "once upon a time"?
Answer: The literary technique evident in this phrase is alliteration, where the repetition of the "o" sound emphasizes the nostalgic tone of the speaker's reminiscence about the past.