"Life Ain't No Crystal Stair"

Author's Note: I wrote this text analysis in response to Langston Hughes poem, "Mother to Son".

The symbolism in this poem are the stairs and every fault in the staircase like tacks, splinters, broken boards, etc. . I think the reason the author, Langston Hughes,used a staircase for the main symbolism is because life has many steps. Some small and some so big you don't know how or if you'll accomplish that "step" and overcome that "splinter". This author is very wise in how he told the story of a mother confiding in her son of what she's experienced and what he'll experience as time goes on.

 In this story, the mother is saying that her life hasn't led up to be something amazing. She experienced very hard times and never really had anything "easy". Those kind of things tend to build a person up though- toughens their skin, straightens their spine, and lifts their head. Sure, you can quit if you want to but it won't do anything for you. That's what the mother is trying to tell her son that even though it's tough, you can't just give up on something you were supposed to gain victory from.

 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.