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.
This is a poem talking about a black mother’s monologue, implying the struggle and hardworking of those black people. She teaches her son that there is no reward if without paying out such as endeavor. For instance, if someone there not have been working, they would not have received the wages for their payment and surviving till today.
We can tell the whole poem is about the stairs or climbing stairs. The “stairway” in the poem is an important metaphor, which indicates long and unpredictable life. The “crystal stairway” indicates the dream of Americans and the author’s expect of the elimination of the discrimination because of races and the extremely unequal of rich and poverty. At last, the whole poem representing the endeavor, faith, and the hope.
Democracy
By Langston Hughes
Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.
I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.
I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.
Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.
I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.
This poem talks about the freedom. The blacks were treated unfair that era. They didn’t have enough rights to express their own opinions. In such a democratic, free country, this should not happen on anyone. Therefore, Langston Hughes protested. He advocated the more humanized life and protested the rights for blacks.
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.
This is a poem talking about a black mother’s monologue, implying the struggle and hardworking of those black people. She teaches her son that there is no reward if without paying out such as endeavor. For instance, if someone there not have been working, they would not have received the wages for their payment and surviving till today.
We can tell the whole poem is about the stairs or climbing stairs. The “stairway” in the poem is an important metaphor, which indicates long and unpredictable life. The “crystal stairway” indicates the dream of Americans and the author’s expect of the elimination of the discrimination because of races and the extremely unequal of rich and poverty. At last, the whole poem representing the endeavor, faith, and the hope.
Democracy
By Langston Hughes
Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.
I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.
I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.
Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.
I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.
This poem talks about the freedom. The blacks were treated unfair that era. They didn’t have enough rights to express their own opinions. In such a democratic, free country, this should not happen on anyone. Therefore, Langston Hughes protested. He advocated the more humanized life and protested the rights for blacks.