Class 10Poem
Mother to Son
by Langston Hughes
A mother tells her son that life has never been easy for her, but she has continued climbing despite difficulties. She urges him not to give up.
Read in
Rapid Learn 2-Minute Revision
Perfect for last-minute revision
2-Minute Revision Video
Video coming soon
- The mother compares life to a staircase.
- Her staircase has splinters, tacks and difficult sections.
- She has faced hardship throughout her life.
- Despite difficulties, she has continued moving upward.
- She tells her son not to turn back or sit down.
- The poem expresses resilience and parental encouragement.
Detailed Summary
Detailed Summary Video
Video coming soon
The mother explains that her life has not been like a smooth crystal staircase. Instead, it has contained obstacles, pain and difficult moments.
Even so, she has continued climbing. She has not given up or stopped when life became hard.
The mother tells her son that he too must keep going. Her advice is both personal and universal: hardship should not become a reason to abandon hope or effort.