Looking at the title of this poem gives me an imagination of what the poem might talk about. My perception when I see the title is that it means love, attention, or advice of a mother to her son. Well, we know that the figure of a mother is really important in a family. She is the one who has given birth. Pure love, great attention or care, and wise advice come from a mother. So, Mother to Son may describe about it. Then, I begin to go deeper seeing the dramatic situation which occurs in this poem. I consider that the speaker is a mother who tries to tell something to her son. It is clear, I think, and it also can be seen at the first line of this poem. I suppose that the poem tells about the advice of a mother to her son. In the first line shows an effort of a mother to advise her son. I imagine when I am in trouble or make mistakes; indeed, my mother will try to give me advice in order to cheer me up or encourage me. It also appears in this poem. Going to other lines explain the hardship of her life, and in the second line up to seventh of the poem attempts to portray her suffering in life. It seems she has faced very tough struggle. I can utter it because I see in the second line she describes her life as no crystal stair. I picture the words no crystal stair as though her experience in life which is not sparkling and luxurious like crystal. In addition, stair is the foothold for us to stand before we step higher to reach the top, I guess. She must have not only trouble but also bad situation. The third line adds that her life is full of tacks which mean pain. Our foot will be bloody if we tread it because tack is keen. So, the pain happens in a mother’s life. In the following lines keep talking about her troublesome life. However, in the last line she remains strong. She does not give up even though she has to face so many problems in life. She keeps going on her life. Well, I assume that she wants her son learn from her experiences. Then, she also reminds and warns her son that life is not easy, so she wants her son will not give up even in the extremely bad condition. I think there is some figure of speech in this poem. For example, dreary life is illustrated like no crystal stair as in the second line. Honestly, I do not really know and understand how to analyze the poem in order to make good interpretation. So, this is my simple analysis about this poem. The theme of Mother to Son centers on being strong, and not to give up when we deal with something difficult. Life sometimes brings us happiness, yet it also gives us distress. What we have to do when we face so many problems which can make us down is not to give up. It is the key to keep holding on in this harsh life. The author may express it by giving an example like a mother advises her son. A mother has been through those tough experiences in life, for instance, when she has given birth, she risks her life to keep her son alive. Moreover, she has to take care and raise her son. There must be hard time when she thinks that she no longer can survive, yet she holds on because she wants to see her son grow up. Her life is full of pain and difficulty as it describes in the poem. However, what she wants to emphasis is she remains not to give up. She keeps holding on. She wants to show her son that she can survive. When life is getting hard, we should convince ourselves that we have people around who love us unconditionally like a mother. She is always there for us to support and encourage. At the uncertain point, life can be so cruel. If we do not have any strength, we will fall down. Here, a mother tries to inform that we should not give up. Whatever the decision in this life we have taken, we should face it with great effort and keep in mind that everything will be alright if we work hard and do not give up. Feeling tired and fail almost often happens when we deal with hardship in this life. While reading the poem, it connects me with the situation that I have had. Yes, too much pressure makes me want to give up. I feel like I can’t face it anymore. Recently, my mother has done surgery because of breast cancer. As her daughter, I must concern about her health. Nonetheless, I still saw her smile on her face. For me, it is like advice. She attempted to reveal that she was truly fine, and she was strong enough to face the big problem in her life. Furthermore, she was not afraid and worried. If my mother gave up, she would not be here. She gives me a lesson life. Indirectly, she teaches me to appreciate everything in this life because life is grace. What happens next, I have to believe everything will be easier if we do not give up.

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.