"Mother to Son," by Langston Hughes

Mother to Son

-Langston Hughes

1         Well, son, I’ll tell you:

2         Life for me aint been no crystal stair.

3         It’s had tacks in it,

4         And splinters,

5         And boards torn up,

6         And places with no carpet on the floor –

7         Bare.

8         But all the time

9         I’se been a-climbin’ on,

10       And reachin’ landin’s,

11       And turnin’ corners,

12       And sometimes goin’ in the dark

13       Where there ain’t been no light.

14       So boy, don’t you turn back.

15       Don’t you set down on the steps

16       ‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.

17       Don’t you fall now – For I’se still goin’, honey,

18       I’se still climbin’,

19       And life for me aint been no crystal stair.