Mitsuye Yamada’s “A Bedtime Story” begins with the universally recognized phrase “once upon a time,” a preamble that traditionally ushers listeners into the realm of fairy tales and happy endings. However, as the poem unfolds, it becomes clear that the narrative diverges sharply from the comforting bedtime stories the title suggests.
From the outset, the speaker introduces a sense of foreboding that contrasts with the expectations set by the phrase “once upon a time.” The story is not of princes and princesses, but of a family forcibly removed from their home, as implied by the lines “the night they came / to take us away to camp” (Yamada). The “camp” here refers to the Japanese internment camps during World War II, a grim piece of history rather than a fairy tale adventure.
The irony further intensifies as the poem progresses. The child, nestled in the “comfort of [their] hilltop home in Seattle,” is shielded from the harsh realities of the past, much as fairy tales are often sanitized for young audiences. Yet the parent, in telling this story, does not shy away from the truth, revealing the painful memory of “the night father burned / the Japanese flag” (Yamada).
As the poem concludes, the listener is left with a history lesson rather than a lullaby. The ending line, “and they lived / happily ever after is a lie, shattering any remaining illusion of a bedtime story’s comfort (Yamada). The juxtaposition between the safety of the present and the traumatic experiences of the past creates a stark irony. The child, expecting a tale of fantasy, is instead provided with a stark narrative of injustice and loss, a sobering reminder that not all stories end happily, and not all histories can be rewritten for comfort. Yamada’s poem serves as a poignant commentary on the way we recount the past to younger generations, challenging the idea that brutal truths should be softened or avoided in favor of a more palatable narrative.
Works Cited
Yamada, Mitsuye. A Bedtime Story.