Mother to Son
Well, son, Ill tell you:
Life for me aint been no crystal stair.
Its had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
Ise been a-climbin on,
And rea landins,
And turnin ers,
And sometimes goin in the dark
Where there aint been no light.
So, boy, dont you turn back.
Dont you set down oeps.
Cause you finds its kinder hard.
Dont you fall now—
For Ise still goin, honey,
Ise still climbin,
And life for me aint been no crystal stair.
Langston Hughes