Readers: To anyone who has experienced the love of a mother in any way.
By Langston Hughes 1902–1967 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.
I remember memorizing this poem as a youth. Now decades later both of my children also had to memorize 'Mother To Son' for school assignments.
ReplyDeleteHere's to you Mr. Hughes! There will never be another one like you.