Mother to Son

Read the poem bleow and respond to the questions which follow.

Mother to Son
by Langston Hughes

Well, son, I'll tell you;
Life for me aint's 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 fall now--
For I'se still goin', honey,
I's still climbin'
And life for me aint's been no crystal stair.


1. What is the poem about?
2. What is the theme?
3. What does the mother want the son to do?
4. What is the metaphors of the poem?