Thank You Mr. Hughes

By: Alex Caraulia


*(Authors Note: This is a short response to the poem, Mother to Son, by Langston Hughes. This is a letter to Langston Hughes telling him what I think of his poem and how I interpreted his poem.)*



Dear Mr. Hughes,



I read your poem the other day and thought it was magnificent! I loved the way you used the metaphor, --“Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.”--. It really created a good piece of imagery. I think—and I may be wrong.—that what you were trying to say to the reader, that this person’s life was not a too happy one. Also the mood of the story, made me feel tired and sad, yet at the same time, full of hope.

The second I read the line, --“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--” – I felt hopeful and I smiled. Sometimes I feel like I have no hope left and I feel like sitting down on the stairs of life; sometimes I feel like falling down. This poem told me to never give up hope and I thank you for that.




Thank you Mr. Hughes,


Alex Caraulia