'Life for me ain't been no crystal stair'

I was just thinking about starting one of my posts with a poem by Langston Hughes, a poet I had not heard of before I came across the poem(will do that post soon) but was short of time today and remembered this line 'Life for me ain't been no crystal stair' from one of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books and decided to put it up. Surprisingly, a quick google search revealed that this one is by Langston Hughes as well! Anyway, am not really into poetry but somehow this one struck a chord - the comparison is so lifelike and practical. And a rhyming scheme always interests me! Should try to read up on more of this poet. Got it from - http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/matoson.html

In this poem, Hughes writes about a mother speaking to her son about life's experiences. He uses the metaphor of a crystal stair.

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 timeI'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.