Poem- "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes

[Ms. Knarr]

"Mother to Son" By Langston Hughes 1902–1967



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.

[abbyjameson]

1. The overall meaning of the poem has to do with overcoming depression in life. Throughout our lives, we are faced with hardships, and often times when we struggle to overcome these obstacles we give up, and become enclosed in darkness. However, the boys mother in this poem is warning him never to give up because, even when you get stuck in a corner and there seems to be no other option but to give up, there is always a way out. Once you struggle through the darkness and obstacles of life, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, a way out of the depressing moments in life. As long as you don't give up, no matter how hard of a struggle it may be, you will eventually reach happiness.

2. The poem was very inspiring to me because it gives hope to us that, yes there will be some tough times in life and it may not seem like there is happiness in the end, but if you try hard and don't give up, you can achieve anything. The fact that the poem is advice from a mother to a son is comforting because it shows that she has been struggling as well, but she knows that there is good in the end, and she is passing on the words of wisdom. I enjoyed the fact that the mother admitted to life being a climb because life is never easy for anyone. Her message to her son gives others hope and inspiration to never give up in life.

3. 1. Why do you think the mother compares life to climbing the rungs of a ladder?
2. Why do you think the boy's mom means when she says "life for me ain't been no crystal stair"?
3. Where do you think the mother got her advice on never sitting down and giving up, do you think she personally experienced it?

Abby, don't forget to ask four questions in your first post!-Ms. Knarr

[rosemariefreschi]

1. Abby, I don't think this poem has to do with depression but more about the things people, such as this mother, have to go through which may lead to depression. The mother in this poem is telling her son that he should never give up because in the end it will pay off. She struggled throughout her live however each obstacle was another stair attached to her staircase eventually leading her to the life she has now. She wants her son to understand that she did not go through all of that to allow her son to be a coward at the first sign of a hard time. If he doesn't challenge himself and make his own staircase to her it will be like he doesn't appreciate everything she has done for him.
2.I agree with Abby that this poem was inspiring because she did allow us to see that life isnt going to be perfect like a crystal staircase but rather it will ave some bumps in it. I too loved how the author made this poem from a mother to son. After reading it I began to think of my own mother and father and what they had/have to go through in order to give me the things I have in life such as my education. This mother wasn't afraid to tell her son about her hardships but instead was proud of them which made me proud of her.
3. (answering Abby's 1) I believe the mother explains life as the rungs of a ladder because we must take each step as a time as we either get higher or lower in our expectations. Also this image allows you to understand the fact that sometimes you might fall off but you just have to start at the bottom. Climbing the ladder may be tougher than you thought but you have to perserver because in the end, when you reach the top, it will all be worth it.
(my question) When she says "don't you turn your back' did she mean on his dreams or on her?

[marysiagarcia]

1. I feel like this poem is about a mother probably on her death bed telling her son that through hardships he must carry on. I dont think it is about depression but more about the struggles of life and having to make it through hard times to make it to the light again, to the soft landing. She is trying to tell him that he must carry on.
2. This poem was really interesting because it teaches a life lesson. Through struggle there is always a top and you have to push through. Sometimes we need someone to remind us of this and this poem did that for me. Life isnt easy thats why its not a "crystal staircase" you dont always know where you are going and you don't always know everything will be fine but you have to trust that it will be in the end. Our struggles and mistakes mold us.
3. Answering Abby in #3 I believe that the mother has seen others sit down and never get back up and she doesnt want that for her son. Maybe she almost experienced that but i dont think she would be there telling her son this if she had.
4. What is the mother talking about not falling but keep going?

[abbyjameson]

1. Now, as I look at it through Marysia and Roe's point of view, I agree with them that it may not have been about depression, but the struggles a mother faces. Also, I really liked Roe's interpretation of the rungs on the ladder because sometimes you do fall off, but you can't give up, you just have to start the climb again. I do, however, disagree with Marysia's answer to my question three because I believe she herself has fallen, not others, and she doesn't want her son to follow in her footsteps.
2.(Answering Roe's question) When the mother says "don't turn your back" I think she means on his dreams, not her. All though a mother would never want to lose her son, she would rather see him in happiness, then leaving his dreams behind for his mother. Also, she means that even though reaching your goal may seem hard, and sometimes you will reach a conflict you can't seem to get past, don't give up on it and keep fighting until your conquer and reach your goals.

[abbyjameson]

(Sorry I forgot to post my own question on my last post!) My question: Do you think the mother is asking her son to leave her so he can achieve his goals, or just giving solemn advice for the future?

[mattstyczynski]

1. I think the overall meaning of this poem is that life is not easy, but very difficult. Life presents us with with certain challenges or obstacles that we have to overcome in order to keep on going. I think the poem also means that we should not give up or be satisfied with where we are in life, but to constantly pursue for something better. The poem also says that we can not go back on what we experienced so that we can not change the outcome. What we did or experienced in the past brings us to where we stand today.

2. After reading this poem I felt a connection to what the mother in the poem was telling her son. My father has told me similar things to what the mother was telling her son about life. It is from this experience I had with my dad, that I could picture the mother actually telling these things to her son. The feelings I got form this poem were perseverance as well as determination. These two feelings seemed to be evident throughout the poem as well.

3. (answering question 2) When the mother says "life for me ain't been no crystal stair" I think it means that life was very difficult for her. She did not have it easy when she was growing up often times coming across very challenging and tough situations.(my question) Has anyone ever told you something similar to what the boy's mother was telling him?

[chrismarrie]

1. I agree with Matt in that I think this poem is generally about life, and how hard it can be sometimes. Hughes is describing this mother's struggles and passing it down to her son in a positive way, saying if he is persistant and doesn't turn back he will see this "light". I think when she says " don't you set down on the steps," she is telling him to never sit back and accept things. If you keep trying hard enough and pushing through, it can be achieved.

2. Overall, I like this poem because of the message the mother is giving to her son. It teaches you that life is not going to be easy, and at certain points in it there will be times where you want to give up. I like how she took a positive outlook on it and tells her son to resist giving up, and that determination will get him somewhere. What is good about the poem is that this can apply to every one of us.

3. (Abby's question 3) I think that she is telling her son this based on her personal experiences. She had probably had some tough times in her life, and want to prepare her son for events that might happen to him so he knows how to deal with them.
(My question) Is the mother telling her son this just for future advice or because something bad has happened to him?

[seanpalen]

1. I agree mostly with Chris. I think the poem is talking about how hard life can be especially for blacks but you must keep going. Because if you stop you are finished. No matter how hard it is you must keep climbing the staircase of life. Hughes also makes the point that it is better if its hard. I think he means that it is better to earn things in life than have them given to you because when you earn them they mean alot more.

2. I like this poem because its true. Life truly is no crystal stair it is an epic battle everyday to survive and get where you want to go. The only way to live is to keep climbing for if you don't you will of not truly lived at all. The poem does an awesome job of being understandable while carrying this strong message.

3. Chris's Question- I think the mother is telling this to her son both for future advice and life experience. She probably has lived a difficult life herself and knows how hard it will be for her son.
My Question- Do you think Langston's mother may of said something like this to him when he ways a boy?

[chrismarrie]

1. I agree with Sean's interpretation of my question. That makes sense that from the difficult life that it looks like she has had, that she would pass down this advice for her son to be prepared in future situations.

2. (Sean's question) Yes, I think that is where Langston Hughes got the idea for this poem from. His mother probably did not have the easiest of lives, and told this same thing to him as a boy. Now that he's grown up, he's grateful for her words and that inspired his writing.
(My question) Is there ever a point where you should just "set down on the steps?"