Mother to Son - 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.

The meaning of the poem (summarized): It means that life (crystal stair) is not easy. A crystal stair seems easy, pretty, and graceful. What she is teaching her son is that if like was really a stair, some steps would have tacks, some steps would have splinters, some steps would have no carpets.

Imagery & Symbolism: The whole thing is a metaphor. Crystal stair means easy life, but the staircase she is referring to, has tacks, and splinters, and dark corners, and other things that represent unease. Tacks and splinters refer to pain, unease, sadness, and bare floor refers to discomfort. The reason I bolded the word some, is because in this poem, she is saying it with a bit overkill, but the truth is that some steps might as well have been almost crystal. Structure: The poet used a structure that makes words have more meaning, for example the line: And places with no carpet on the floor Bare. Bare on its own makes the word more...bare, so that it sticks out

Mood: The mood is like a mother-son talk just more with an American accent. This poem is meant to be touching, and basically a short way of explaining life as a staircase. Interview: Poet: Langston Hughes

About: James Mercer Langston Hughes wrote from 1926-67. He wrote all types of entertaining literature, from kids books to operas. As a child, he was raised by his grandmother until he was 12. Interview: Interviewer: I am Boubakar Djombana and today we are here to learn a little something about poetry! This poet had quite a hectic life, having to deal with his parents divorce at a young age, and living with his grandmother, due to his mother constantly traveling, untill he was 12. He moved back with his mother and new father. Then, in 8th grade, he wrote his first poem. Not only poet, he was also a big part of the Harlem Renaissance. Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome, Langston Hughes.

Interviewer: So, Langston, did your background influence your poems and how? Langston: Yes. When I was little, raised by my grandmother, I was surrounded by books. Then in eighth grade, I wrote my first poem, which motivated me to write more. One of my favourite pastimes were to sit in a club and listen to the blues while I worked on my writing. I write from my own experience because this can in one way or another help readers tackle lifes obstacles. Interviewer: In the poem Mother to Son, why did you use metaphors like Tacks and Splinters or Crystal stair?

Langston: Well, because they are similar to real life events. A tack or a splinter can be painful or hazardous, like an event in real life. Boards torn up can mean damage, whether it is big or small, like boards torn up everywhere in a worst case scenario is like you come back home, and everywhere, the streets, the house, the mall, all are burning, glass on the floor, damage.

Interviewer: Do these damages and hazards relate to real life? Langston: Yes. They can be referring to many things, like my parents divorce, all that moving around...But besides those hazards, I agree that there is a good side to life too, like I remember being in high school, I was voted for yearbook editor and class poet. I was also very popular with the other students.

Interviewer: Why did you decide to pick a mother to son talk theme for this poem?

Langston: Well, simply because my mother was an important part of my life. After I had dealt with my parents divorce I had a new dad, but my momwas still the same person. She was there with me all of the way, so I thought that this poem that a lot of people would be reading, could (metaphorically) explain life, like how my mother would explain using metaphors. Interviewer (Concluding Question): Finally, what do you want readers to learn from this poem?

Langston: I just want them to understand that life goes on, and there WILL be tacks and splinters, so when you step into one, solve it (pull it out), and keep climbing the stairs.