Dec

19

There Are No Crystal Stairs To Change

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My neighbors sometimes ask me why I keep pushing myself forward to fight what may seem like a losing political battle.  ”How is it that you don’t just stop and let things be?”

Admittedly, it can be unpleasant and hard at times.  And on those days I turn to a wonderfully inspiring poem by Langston Hughes.  In the poem, a mother tells her son that life for her had not been a “crystal stair”, it was full of obstacles but she is determined to persevere and make it to the top.  She encourages her son to do the same and not give up when life gets hard.
 
Luckly, my life has not been incredibly difficult.  Challenging at times, frustrating maybe, but not difficult.   Some of the obstacles I have encountered were of my own doing, others were put there by petty individuals, and still others like the economy are purely situational.  But they were and are fully surmountable.  So every once in a while I pause and remind myself that life may not be a “crystal stair.” It is up to me to keep striving, keep climbing and never ever turn back.
 

“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.