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 floorâ?”
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 nowâ?”
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
(Langston Hughes)
More Poetry from Langston Hughes:
Langston Hughes Poems based on Topics: Life, Light, Time, Sons- Advertisemen (Langston Hughes Poems)
- Cultural Exchange (Langston Hughes Poems)
- Brass Spittoons (Langston Hughes Poems)
- Trumpet Player (Langston Hughes Poems)
- The Ballad Of The Landlord (Langston Hughes Poems)
- Sylvester's Dying Bed (Langston Hughes Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Life Poems, Light Poems, Time Poems, Sons PoemsBased on Keywords: kinder, goin, climbin, turnin, tacks, splinters, reachin, landin, a-climbin, nowâ