What does the mother warn the son about in this poem??? PLZ HELP!?

Question

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

Answer 1

Crystal is smooth, fragile, but splinter, tack and nail free. Some places are dark (the unknown), and the climb is hard and unforgiving.

This is drawing a parallel to life in that there will be mostly hard times, the unknown, and obstacles in the way. And she is warning her son not to sit down on the steps of life but keep ascending no matter how dark or rough it gets.

Answer 2

She telling him (most likely before he is about to leave the house to go out on his own) that life is not kind to anyone, but if life isn't kind to him, he shouldn't give up, because "I's still climbin'"

.:IMAGERY:.

STAIRS: climbing up the scale in life, upping your status, etc.

CRYSTAL: Represents something glamorous.

Answer 3

Crystal stair - this is an example of an extended metaphor. The mother is comparing her life to a staircase (in this case, the contrast is with a CRYSTAL staircase which would indicate wealth and luxury.) She contrasts her life (splinters, tacks, bare boards, etc.)

tacks in it - carpet tacks are very short, thin nails designed to hold the carpet to the stairs with the least amount of damage to the wood. This might indicate she's had lots of small problems along with the larger ones.

splinters - tiny slivers of wood that appear when wood is shredded.

bare - uncarpeted. Nothing to cushion the impact of the people who walk/run up the stairs. During parts of her life, there has been nothing/no one to help make her life easier.

boards torn up - boards are what makes up the stairs. Her life might have fallen apart at some point.

reachin' landin's - reaching landings - a landing is a platform where the stair changes direction - also a convenient place to rest on a long climb. She found resting points and her life changed direction.

goin' in the dark/ain't been no light - light is a frequent symbol for hope. She has gone on even when she felt hopeless.

don't you turn back - don't give upand go back down the stairs. Don't give up the struggle.

Don't you set down on the steps - don't sit down on the steps to rest. Don't be content with where you are.

kinder hard - kind of hard

I'se still climbin' - She is still working to improve her life.

And life for me ain't been no crystal stair - this is repetition of the first line. She repeats that her life hasn't been one of luxury and wealth, but of struggle and difficulty. Her advice ito her son is to keep working, no matter what you come up against. Never turn your back on the goal, and never rest easy with what you've got.