"Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes

"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.

Tone: The tone of this poem is very conversational using the vernacular language of a common woman. The language within the poem helps the audience understand that the speaker is less educated adding to the informality. Additionally, the relaxed and conversational tone of the poem indicates that the speaker wants her son to succeed but he will be forced to face difficulties in his future just like her.

Word Choice: The extended metaphor of the poem is crafted by poignant usage of specific diction utilizing words like "boards," "splinters," "tacks," and "landin's."Moreover, the vernacular diction of the speaker plays a key role in crafting the tone of the entire poem. 

Imagery/Detail: The extended metaphor of the staircase is the primary source of imagery and detail in the poem while the trials and tribulations of the speaker's life are described in great detail within the context of the stairs. For example, the speaker makes reference to the tacks and splinters of the staircase representing the painfulness of life that impede progress. Likewise, boards are missing from the stairs meaning that there could be gaps in the path of life that the speaker is forced to bridge through hard work and perseverance.Maybe not every step of life is safe but it is still possible to make it through intact. 

Style: "Mother to Son" is entirely free verse with no clear rhyme scheme or rhythm, but Hughes does make a concerted effort to ensure the length of a particular line stands out. The word "Bare" stands alone indicating the presence of solidarity in life. Hughes includes a few examples of alliteration in the poem like "Don't you set down on the steps" as well as repetition  earlier in the piece beginning two lines with "And."

Theme: Using an older matron to provide advice to her son, Langston Hughes is addressing the challenges of life. Life is like a staircase, it must be climbed steadily without rushing because it is full of hazards like gaps and splinters ready to strike. Similarly, it must be addressed with forcefulness and strength because it has the power to destroy one's willpower. 

At the very beginning of the poem, the author immediately acknowledges that life has not been an easy journey for her contrasting her own staircase to one made of crystal. The staircase is full of tacks, missing boards, and places with no carpet. Yet, the speaker kept climbing up the metaphorical staircase in darkness and in light without sitting down or turning back because one must keep going even if life hasn't been or will be easy. 

I felt a strong personal connection to this poem because I have a close relationship with my mom and I would hope she would give me this kind of advice considering her life hasn't necessarily been the easiest. She has always worked outside of the home when a lot of my friends growing up had moms that were there all the time, but my mom has always made me proud because she is one of the only female lawyers in Lexington that has practiced for a long time in a truly male dominated field. Life hasn't been easy for her but she just keeps on going.