Re: poem with metaphors

[Elizabeth Kelso <bizbe@optonline.net>]

This is such a nice example of extended metaphor...

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.

On Dec 17, 2006, at 6:29 PM, SommerWind410@aol.com wrote:

> Hi all--
> Can anyone recommend a poem which would be good for teaching  
> metaphor?  I will also have my students memorize and recite it, so  
> I'd like it to be of reasonable length.  Sylvia Plath's "Metaphors"  
> came to mind, but I'm having second thoughts on whether or not it  
> might be considered inappropriate or if it would make the kids  
> uncomfortable to recite it.  Any suggestions would be GREATLY  
> appreciated!
>
> Cathy