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. Dreams BY LANGSTON HUGHES Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow. Please answer the following questions about the two Langston Hughes poems above. 1. Between the two poems find at least two metaphors, write the lines down and what you think the metaphors mean.

2. What do you think is the main message of "Mother to Son" ?

3. What do you think the main message of "Dreams" is?

4. Find one line in "Mother to Son" that you think is powerful and explain why. (include the line)

5. Find one line in "Dreams" you think is powerful and explain why ( include the line).

6. Write down how you can relate to one of the poems and explain your thoughts.