Mother To Son, Langston Hughes: Summary & Analysis
In "Mother To Son," Langston Hughes presents a metaphorical conversation between a mother and her son, conveying the challenges and hardships she has faced throughout her life. Through the imagery of a difficult and uneven stairway, the poem explores themes of perseverance, resilience, and the intergenerational passing of wisdom. Mother To Son
Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
Critical Analysis "Mother…