LIFE AIN’T BEEN NO CRYSTAL STAIRS

One of my favorite poems is “Mother to Son“ by the late great Langston Hughes. Often times, we don’t see other people’s struggles; many are concealed. As highlighted in the poem, many hardships and struggles were encountered, but the mother kept climbing - through all the harsh conditions that she faced. With God’s grace, we can make it through! As noted in the poem, truly,life is no crystal stairs!

Mother to Son

Langston Hughes

1901 –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 sit 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.”