INTRODUCTION
This volume focuses on the use of an extended metaphor and is modeled after “Mother to Son”, a poem written by Langston Hughes in 1922. In his poem, a mother describes her tough life and her determination to persevere through the hardships. She compares this difficult journey to a stairway, “My life ain’t been no crystal stair.” Her hardships were described as “tacks, bare, and boards torn up.” Her determination to keep going forward was described as “I’se still climbin” and “turnin’ corners.” As the mother had done for her son in the poem, the students were then asked to select someone in their own life to advise by metaphoric means, allowing them to not only learn different forms of literary art, but to perhaps learn a thing or two about life itself in the process. In publishing their poems, they are hoping to share valuable insights with their readers.
Mother to Son
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 aint 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.
By: Langston Hughes