Son to Mother

Well, mother, I’ll tell you:
I know life for you “ain’t been no crystal stair”
But life for me ain’t been no pearl elevator, either.
It’s had gunshots in it
It creaks up,
It shakes down,
And floors with no buttons for them –
Empty.
But all the time
I been holdin’ on,
And lookin’ up,
Raising to higher floors,
And sometimes crawling,
When I can’t walk.
Don’t you go down in the elevator
‘Cause like you said,
“You finds it’s kinder hard.”
Don’t you trip now –
For I’m still goin’ mommy,
I’m still holdin’ on,
And life for me ain’t been no pearl elevator, either.


© 2002 Gustavo White

A response to Langston Hughes' "Mother to Son"