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.

Meanings of Mother to Son

In his dramatic monologue “Mother to Son,” Langston Hughes shows a mother teaching her son how to succeed in life full of racism. She advises him that she has faced tough obstacles in her life. The main ideas of the poem are the obstacles that racism poses and the ways to cope with such a life to achieve success.

Meanings of Lines 1-7

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.

Langston Hughes presents a speaker who is a mother of a teenager. She is addressing her son saying in an exclamatory tone as if she has already talked to him. She says that life has been difficult for him with tacks (nails) and splinters as it has not been a crystal stair on which she could have glided upward. Rather it was full of tacks and splinters. The stairs she climbed were also with torn-up boards and bare places where there were no carpets. The mother belongs to African American community and has had a hard and tough life. That is what she is conveying to her son. Like the stairs, life presented him with rough and tough challenges, and it was not an easy ride. This stanza presents the partial theme of the main idea of racism and its obstacles.

Meanings of Lines 8-14

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.

The speaker, the mother, continues with her monologue in a suggestive mood that her son is present and that he is listening to her attentively. She tells him that despite the difficulties that life presented in her way, she continued climbing, facing landings, corners, darkness , and spaces without light. Through her own grit and perseverance, she tells him to continue and not turn back. Her implicit message is not to turn back and lose in life. Rather, he should continue climbing, and wherein lies his success. This stanza contributes to the main idea of winning through challenges which lie in continuing with perseverance.

Meanings of Lines 15-20

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.

The Mother moves forward with her pieces of advice, asking her son not to sit down when he finds the steps difficult for moving ahead. She states that he should also avoid falling down as she is still going on and is on the way to climbing. That is why her own life has been hard and tough and not easy like crystal stair. Her advice to her son is that he should continue struggling to move ahead no matter what comes on his way. The stanza completes the main stanza of the suffering during racism and the will to struggle to win.  

Summary of Mother to Son

  • Popularity of “Mother to Son”: Langston Hughes , a famous American poet and columnist, wrote the poem “Mother to Son” as a famous dramatic monologue. It was first published in the magazine Crisis in 1922. The poem is about a mother giving advice to her son about the challenges of life. It also illustrates how sometimes life becomes too heavy, but a person should never give up.
  • “Mother to Son” As a Representative of Reality”: The poem comprises the thoughts of a mother whose life is surrounded by misery. However, she knows that the best means of combating these situations are her abilities to be strong. While talking about her experiences of life, she says that life has never been a “crystal stair” for her. It has gaps, splinters, and places without carpet. Despite these obstacles, she has managed to move ahead. She encourages her son to follow her to push through life. To her, optimism and the ability to overcome adversity are the only ways to surmount obstacles in life. What enchants the readers is the undaunted struggle of a mother during her tough time of life.
  • Major Themes in “Mother to Son”: Hardships, hope, and courage are some of the major themes of the poem. The poem explores the dignity and determination of a person when facing problems. The speaker compares her life to a ragged staircase and conjures up the idea that one should not give up. She says that life is full of tests, challenges, and confusion, and a person should confront them with courage and determination. Throughout the poem, she instructs her son to continue his struggle with patience, resilience, and hope, giving her own life’s example.

Analysis of Literary Devices in “Mother to Son”

literary devices are tools that enable writers to present their ideas, emotions, and feelings with the use of these devices. Langston has also employed some literary devices in this poem to show the courage and optimism of a mother. The analysis of some of the literary devices used in this poem is given below.

  • Assonance : Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /o/ in “So boy, don’t you turn back”.
  • Consonance : Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /t/ and /r/ in “Where there ain’t been no light”.
  • Imagery : Imagery is used to make readers perceive things with their five senses. For example, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”, “And places with no carpet on the floor” and “Don’t you set down on the steps.”
  • Allusions: Allusion is a belief and an indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of a historical, cultural, political or literary significance. He used this device in the opening line of the poem, such as “Crystal Stair” which refers to Jacob’s stair from the Old Testament in The Bible.
  • Metaphor : It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between objects different in nature. Langston used an extended metaphor to compare the mother’s life to a staircase throughout the poem.
  • Symbolism : Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings different from literal meanings. Similarly, “Staircase” symbolizes hardships. It also symbolizes the life that we spend.
  • Enjambment : Enjambment refers to the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet or stanza, such as,
“Don’t you set down on the steps ’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.”

A careful glimpse at this literary analysis shows that Langston has skillfully employed these devices to express the sentiments of a mother and the reality of life.

Analysis of Poetic Devices in “Mother to Son”

  Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is an analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.

  • Free Verse : Free Verse is a type of poetry that does not contain any specific patterns of rhyme or meter . “Mother to Son” is a free verse poem that does not follow any rhyme scheme or stanza pattern.
  • Stressed and Unstressed Syllables : These two types of syllables are used in trochee such as the first is stressed and second is unstressed syllable in “Mother to Son” and this pattern continues throughout the poem such as, “ Life for me ain’t been no cry stal ”
  • Repetition : There is a repetition of the line “life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” which has created a musical quality in the poem. It has also created rhetorical impacts in the poem.
  • Refrain : The lines that are repeated again at some distance in the poems are called a refrain . The line, “life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” is repeated with the same words; it has become a refrain on account of its repetition.

  Quotes to be Used

The lines stated below can be used when motivating children to rise again after failure and face the challenges of life confidently.

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Mother to Son: Analysis and Summary

Hughes’ poem “Mother to Son” was first published in Crisis magazine in December 1922. It reappeared in The Weary Blues, Hughes’ first collection of poetry, in 1926. The poem is addressed from a mother to a son, warning him about life’s obstacles.

Mother to Son: About the Poet

Langston Hughes (1902-67) was an African American poet. He was born in Joplin, Mississippi. He lived in Mexico for a period of time during his youth and spent a year at Columbia University. He spent his career serving as a merchant seaman and working in a Paris nightclub where he showed some of his poems to Dr. Alan Locke, a strong supporter of African American Literature.

After returning to the United States, Hughes went on to publish fiction, plays, essays, and biographies. He also founded theatres and gave public readings. He became an important force in the Harlem Renaissance of 1920 to 1940. The Harlem Renaissance drew new attention to and redefined the unique African American culture of art, music, and dance.

Mother to Son: Summary

In Hughes’ poem “Mother to Son,” a mother advises her son that he will face many adversities in life, and yet he must overcome them and keep going. The mother compares the journey through life to ascending a staircase. She says that for her, life has not been a staircase made of crystal. Rather it has been quite rough with protruding nails and pieces of wood jutting out, boards were torn up, and places where the carpet was missing. However, she has kept climbing through landings, corners, and darkness in spite of such discomforts. She then asks the boy to walk in her footsteps and keep moving forward without turning back or giving up because he finds the journey arduous. She wants him to take inspiration from the fact that she is still going steady despite life’s hardships.

Mother to Son: Analysis

The anonymous mother in the poem may be suggestive of the African American women of pre-depression America encouraging their sons to strive for success. The poem is written in the form of a dramatic monologue in black dialect.  The idiomatic style of the speech is invoked in the context of the courage, endurance, and sense of duty of the African American race.  The language also imparts a charged colloquial element to the poem. The theme of the poem is perseverance.

As the poem opens with “Well, son, I’ll tell you,” it is possible that the son has asked or said something before to which she is responding. In the next line, she says that her life “ain’t” been a “crystal stair.” The use of the word “ain’t” indicates that the mother is not a learned person, and “crystal stair” is symbolic of smoothness, beauty, and luster.

“Tacks,” “splinters,” “boards were torn up” suggest hurdles of life. Tacks are nails, and splinters are small fragments of wood that make it hard for the person to step. Boards torn up may symbolize unsteady or rough grounds leading to uncertainty in the person’s mind. “Bare” suggests scant furnishings.

“I’se been a-climbin’ on,” “reachin’ landin’s,” “turnin’ corners” suggests movement and therefore signifies an ascent that is inspiring. “And sometimes goin’ in the dark / Where there ain’t been no light” makes this poem a story of dark times. The dilapidated staircase is also representative of the poor living conditions of the Black Americans under the tyranny of the Whites.

The poem is suggestive of the effect of racism and oppression on the lives and experiences of black Americans. However, this piece of advice from mother to son has a universal quality. It can be read as an advice from any mother to any son, anywhere in the world, without keeping the historical background in mind.

In the next five lines, the mother urges her son not to “turn back” or “set down on the steps” of “fall” when he recognizes life for the never-ending drudgery that it truly is. She does not want him to lose courage, start descending or get tired, sit down to rest, and not resume climbing. She also does not want him to “fall,” which may mean literally tumbling down the steps unable to take the pressure, or it may be associated with the Biblical “Fall,” which in this context may mean resorting to criminal activities and unfair means to accomplish his ends.

In the last three lines, she reveals her own strength and perseverance as she says, “I’se still goin’, honey,/ I’se still climbing/ And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”. She tries to pose as a role model for the boy and instill strength and courage into his mind to help him undertake life’s tedious journey in the best possible way.

Mother to Son: Poetic Devices

The poem is written in free verse and has a lyrical quality due to the idiomatic language used by the poet.

The poetic device involved in the poem is the extended metaphor of life being a staircase. The central image of the poem is the “crystal stair.” It echoes the Biblical story of Jacob’s Ladder. The stairway may be seen as a path to freedom and liberation, which was the goal of the African Americans.

To represent the struggle of the mother, Hughes uses images of “tack,” “splinter,” “boards,” and “carpet.”

The mother’s drive and persistence are expressed through the images “a-climbin’ on,” “reachin’ landin’s,” “turnin’ corners,” and “And sometimes goin’ in the dark / Where there ain’t been no light.”

The mother teaches them that he should never collapse under the pressures that life puts him through. Hughes uses repetition in “don’t you turn back./Don’t you set down on the steps./’Cause you find it’s kinder hard./Don’t you fall now” to emphasize the mother’s anxious expectation of her son. She wants him to be tenacious like herself.

He uses repetition in “I’se still goin’,” “I’se still climbing,” once again putting stress on the mother’s struggles and weariness.

The image of the “crystal stair” is repeated in the last line to accentuate the perpetual toil again to achieve goals and fulfillment.

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Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son”. Poetry Explication Essay

Introduction, literary elements.

It is a well-known fact that James Mercer Langston Hughes is one of the most influential voices of the Harlem Renaissance. Many of his texts reflect the importance of human experience and the culture of his era. Langston Hughes’s “Mother to Son” poem is a powerful message, which a mother conveys to her child as instruction and moral support. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the poem and discuss the way the use of literary elements contributes to building a complex message contained in the text.

The essence of the poem revolves around the idea that life was not a crystal staircase for the main heroine, who is the speaker, and she warns her child about it. Also, the poem explains that life is not an adventure or a journey that should be taken for the sake of self-knowledge, but exhausting work and long, tedious walking. The mother’s instruction encourages the son to continue walking and not give up despite the possible obstacles he might come across in his life.

Notably, from the very first line, the mother addresses her child directly and encourages him to listen to her: “Well, son, I’ll tell you” (1. 1). The manner of speaking is informal, which implies that the relationship is close but also that the conversation will not be easy. The second line – “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” – immediately reveals the main message of the conversation (1. 2). The woman warns her child that life has never been easy for her.

From the third line, the woman compares her life path to someone else’s for whom it was easier to live. For the mother, her life path was full of “splinters” and “boards were torn up,” which is indicated in the fourth and fifth lines directly (1. 4-5). It may be assumed that fear was one of the dominating feelings for the woman, and each new step made on the staircase could bring something new of which to be afraid. In addition, the next lines imply that the woman has had no support at some points in her life because sometimes the floor was “bare” (1. 6-7). The mother says to her son that there have always been instances when she had no support, which was accompanied by poor living conditions (“no carpet”), and so her journey was a struggle (1. 6).

Interestingly, starting from the eighth line, the mood changes slightly. The woman tells her son that, despite the complexities faced (“but all the time”), she is moving forward: “I’ve been a-climbin’ on” (2. 8-9). She wants her son to continue climbing the metaphorical stairs and accept the lessons life has prepared for him. Then the mother describes her landings; whenever she was “reachin’ landings,” she would make a turn or take some time to relax (2. 10). In lines twelve-thirteen, she still warns her child that sometimes she had to continue to walk in places where there was no light, but she was not afraid of this. It may be assumed that the woman wants her son to be a strong person ready to face the possible threats the stairs may offer. It is impossible to say if the mother was the first one to climb the stairs in the darkness or if she was one of the many people who were doing this. Every reader needs to interpret these two lines according to their worldview.

Further on, the woman wants to make sure the son is listening to her attentively, and so she addresses him directly: “So boy, don’t you turn back” (3. 14). She wants to make sure he does not “turn back” despite the adversities of life and the possible oppression (3. 14). She tries to warn him that there is nothing down the staircase that could help him overcome the dangerous steps, so he simply needs to continue climbing up. Then she continues instructing and advising him not to “set down on the steps” because this will not help solve any problem but only complicate the setting (3. 15-16). In the most difficult situations, the son needs to pull himself in hand and overcome his fears instead of taking a break.

Inline seventeen, the woman also warns her child that the higher he gets, the more dangerous it becomes to “fall” down, so he needs to be careful and cautious (3. 17). The stairs are full of obstacles, splinters, and broken boards, and it is quite possible that the higher he gets, the more challenges might emerge. Therefore, he needs to be careful about the choices he makes to ensure some of those obstacles are prevented.

Importantly, the last three lines of the final stanza conclude the main message of the talk between a mother and a child. The woman states that she still chooses to continue her difficult journey, although she has had enough challenges and limitations. She is “still climbin’,” and she wants her son never to give up as well (3. 19). She repeats that her life “ain’t been no crystal stair,” but it is her decision and desire to continue climbing (3. 20). This is the world in which they are living, and they should accept the adversities it brings them.

Curiously, in his poem, Langston Hughes expands the metaphor, building up meanings around a certain idea. In this case, the metaphor of a ladder reflects the woman’s complex life path and how she copes with difficulties. The physical structure of the poem connects the form with the metaphor since the lines of the text (a combination of short and long lines) reflect the shape of the stairs. The shape of the ladder is supported by the free verse and absence of a particular rhyme.

Apart from that, the topics of light and darkness may be regarded as symbols. Sometimes, the woman has to walk in complete darkness (or in the absence of light), which indicates that there have been situations when she had no hope for the better. In addition, it may be assumed that the mother was unsure of where she was going and if she was walking in the correct direction.

In terms of language, the reader may notice that the speaker uses colloquial language. This has been done intentionally to reveal to the reader that the woman is less educated, and her life is not perfect. It may be suggested that informal language was used as a tool to create a generalized image of people of that time who were facing oppression and wanted to warn their children about the challenges.

Thus, it can be concluded that Langston Hughes has built the metaphor of a staircase on several levels. The powerful message that the mother conveys to her son reflects the inspirational insistence of the woman. Through her own example, she is trying to encourage her son to fight since he will inevitably encounter the difficulties inherent in an unequal society. Through the metaphor of a staircase, the poet introduces the challenges this woman has faced and reveals that she is willing to pass her endurance to her child.

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IvyPanda. (2021, August 1). Langston Hughes' "Mother to Son". Poetry Explication. https://ivypanda.com/essays/langston-hughes-mother-to-son-poetry-explication/

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IvyPanda . (2021) 'Langston Hughes' "Mother to Son". Poetry Explication'. 1 August.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Langston Hughes' "Mother to Son". Poetry Explication." August 1, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/langston-hughes-mother-to-son-poetry-explication/.

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Bibliography

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  1. Mother to Son Poem Summary and Analysis

    "Mother to Son" is a poem by Langston Hughes. It was first published in 1922 in The Crisis, a magazine dedicated to promoting civil rights in the United States, and was later collected in Hughes's first book The Weary Blues (1926).

  2. Mother to Son by Langston Hughes (Poem + Analysis)

    Poem Analyzed by Emma Baldwin B.A. English (Minor: Creative Writing), B.F.A. Fine Art, B.A. Art Histories 'Mother to Son' by Langston Hughes was first published in December of 1922 in the magazine, Crisis. It was also included in Hughes' collection, The Weary Blues, published four years later. This piece is one of his most popular and relatable.

  3. "Mother to Son" Analysis Essay

    "Mother to Son" Analysis Essay Decent Essays 611 Words 3 Pages Open Document "Mother to Son" The speaker of the poem "Mother to Son," by Langston Hughes is a mother who is giving advice to her son. Her life has been difficult and hard at times.

  4. A Short Analysis of Langston Hughes' 'Mother to Son'

    'Mother to Son' is one of Hughes' best-known poems, and sees a mother addressing her son, telling him about how hard and challenging her life has been, and offering him some parental advice. You can read 'Mother to Son' here (it takes no longer than a minute to read); below, we offer an analysis of the poem's meaning and symbolism.

  5. Analysis of the Poem "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes

    Hughes led an adventurous life, writing novels, short stories and plays as well as essays and poetry, the latter influenced by the rhythms in jazz and blues music. ... Line-by-Line Commentary and Analysis "Mother to Son" is a single-stanza poem of 20 lines. Most are short (one is only a single word), and they constitute a monologue, like a ...

  6. "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes Analysis

    "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes Analysis - A Closer Look By Justin van Huyssteen Posted November 22, 2023 Updated November 24, 2023 Poems, when powerfully composed, can become an integral part of wider culture, and there are many instances of poems that have managed to succeed in becoming well-known outside of standard literary circles.

  7. Mother to Son Analysis

    Popularity of "Mother to Son": Langston Hughes, a famous American poet and columnist, wrote the poem "Mother to Son" as a famous dramatic monologue. It was first published in the magazine Crisis in 1922. The poem is about a mother giving advice to her son about the challenges of life. It also illustrates how sometimes life becomes too heavy, but a person should never give up.

  8. Mother to Son Summary

    "Mother to Son" is a 1922 poem by American poet Langston Hughes. The speaker of the poem is a mother who is talking to her son. The poem is about the speaker's advice to her son about life,...

  9. Mother to Son Summary, Themes, and Literary Analysis

    'Mother to Son' is a song composed by an African American poet and journalist Langston Hughes. It is a well-known dramatic monologue. It was printed in a magazine called The Crisis for the first time in the year 1922. It was later included in Hughes' book titled The Weary Blues published in 1926.

  10. Mother to Son Summary and Study Guide

    Overview. Langston Hughes's 1922 poem "Mother to Son" was written for the civil rights magazine The Crisis and later published in Hughes's first book, The Weary Blues (1926). The poem's speaker, a mother, addresses her son in a lecture about perseverance and hope. The mother describes her difficult life and the painful obstacles she ...

  11. Mother To Son By Langston Hughes English Literature Essay

    Mother To Son By Langston Hughes English Literature Essay Reference this Share this: Facebook Twitter Reddit LinkedIn WhatsApp Every parent expects to see his or her child succeed in life. This expectancy has led to parents spending time parenting while encouraging their children to follow in their footsteps.

  12. An Analysis "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes Research Paper

    In the poem "Mother to Son" Hughes speaks of the lives of the black Americans who constantly fought against discrimination and poverty faced during the Harlem era. He very well explores the issues of social injustices, race, black American art, and culture.

  13. Mother to Son: Analysis and Summary

    After returning to the United States, Hughes went on to publish fiction, plays, essays, and biographies. He also founded theatres and gave public readings. He became an important force in the Harlem Renaissance of 1920 to 1940. ... Mother to Son: Analysis. The anonymous mother in the poem may be suggestive of the African American women of pre ...

  14. Langston Hughes' "Mother to Son". Poetry Explication Essay

    It is a well-known fact that James Mercer Langston Hughes is one of the most influential voices of the Harlem Renaissance. Many of his texts reflect the importance of human experience and the culture of his era. Langston Hughes's "Mother to Son" poem is a powerful message, which a mother conveys to her child as instruction and moral support.

  15. Langston Hughes' "Mother to Son": An Analysis Free Essay Example

    Langston Hughes' "Mother to Son": An Analysis Categories: Poems Download Analysis, Pages 4 (948 words) Views 1435 Introduction Langston Hughes, a prominent figure in American literature, once stated that his primary purpose in writing was "to explain and illuminate the Negro condition in America."

  16. Mother to Son: Essay

    Mother to Son: Essay Cite This Essay Download Langston Hughes, an influential literary artist, "explore [d] the lives of African-Americans" during the Harlem Renaissance ("Mother to Son" 177).

  17. Analysis Essay: Mother to Son By Langston Hughes

    / Samples / Literature Analysis Essay: Mother to Son By Langston Hughes Every mother wants to see their child succeed in life. Through the good times and challenging times, each generation will experience both at some point. The person you mature to be will determine if you kept pushing through those hard times so you can enjoy the good times.

  18. Poem Analysis: Langston Hughes' "Mother to Son"

    Poem Analysis: Langston Hughes' "Mother to Son". (1) In Langston Hughes' poem "Mother to Son," the speaker is, as the title implies, a mother to her son. (2) Hughes writes the poem from the first-person point-of-view of the mother addressing her son; however, it is not a true dialogue poem since the son is not a character in the ...

  19. Mother To Son Literary Analysis Essay

    Literary Analysis Langston Hughes and Edward Estlin Cummings were both famous poets during the Harlem Renaissance time period. Edward was a white American whose Harvard education was passed down to him through his father's family because of their privileged background, while Langston was an African American who worked his way through college saving his own money just to receive his college ...

  20. "Mother to Son" and "If": Poems Analysis

    The poem "Mother to Son" informs the reader about an African-American mother life, referred as a symbolic staircase. The poem shows how hard her life was by saying, "It's had tacks in it,/ And splinters,/ And boards were torn up,/ And places with no carpet on the floor-/ Bare" (Hughes 3-7). The other poem "If" informs the reader ...

  21. Mother to Son Poem analysis

    The use of a mother's tone being very serious would also be an indication of the challenges the mother has gone through raising the son. With the increased rates of single mothers among Black Americans, mothers are left without alternative but to take up the role of both parents for the well-being of their child (Pearl 177).

  22. Free Mother To Son By Langston Hughes: An Analysis Essay Example

    Free Mother To Son By Langston Hughes: An Analysis Essay Example Type of paper: Essay Topic: Poetry, Poem, Literature, Family, Life, Mother, Women, Parents Pages: 5 Words: 1500 Published: 02/20/2023 ORDER PAPER LIKE THIS

  23. Mother To Son Analysis Essay Free Essay Example

    Mother To Son Analysis Essay Topics: Communication Family Langston Hughes Mother Poetry Download Analysis, Pages 3 (610 words) Views 669 "Mother to Son" The speaker of the poem "Mother to Son," by Langston Hughes is a mother who is giving advice to her son. Her life has been difficult and hard at times.

  24. Opinion

    Ms. Stack is a contributing Opinion writer. As the mother of a school shooter, Jennifer Crumbley must live with a reputation whose stains can never wash clean. Hunched in a Michigan courtroom ...