For my boys!

(Langston Hughes, 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 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.

I heard this poem the other day in school, and fell in love with it. The truth of it struck me. As much as I hope my boys life will be nothing but raindows and sunshine I know there will be tacks and splinters. All I can do as there mother is show them that the only thing they can do is keep going with the faith that it will get better.