Mother to Son

In 11th grade, I developed an interest in poetry. I admired the works of several poets - Poe, Wilde, Frost, Neruda, and Dickinson. I wrote a few pieces and even won honorable mention in a poetry contest. And that was the end of that. I still appreciate poetry, though, even if I have not written a poem since then.

The title of this post is from Langston Hughes' work and I'm borrowing it in honor of my son's upcoming first birthday.  Hughes writes from the perspective of a mother speaking to her son about life's hardships by using the appropriate metaphor of life as a climb up a staircase.  There are many difficulties and struggles in life, but it is important to keep going and move beyond these obstacles and keep living life.  The moral is that life is tough, but you shouldn't avoid it.  I can't think of a more important lesson for a mother to impart upon her son.

Mother to Son

by: Langston Hughes

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.