““Mother to Son” Inspired Poems”

1. April 17th, 2014 at 10:21 AM      Reply christiana Says:

   (Daughter to mother) by Christiana smith
   Inspired by Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son”

   Well, Mom, I’ll tell you:
   Life for me ain’t been no rose garden.
   It’s had thorns in it,
   And splinters,
   And stinky mildew,
   And places with no direction—
   Lonely. But all the time
   i’se been thinking,
   And learning,
   And reaching goals,
   And sometimes goin in the dark
   Where there aint been no light.
   So Mom, don’t you turn back.
   Don’t you give up
   ’Cause you find it kind of hard.
   Don’t you fall down—
   For I’se still loving, honey
   I’se still moving
   And life for me ain’t been no rose garden.

   
   
2. April 17th, 2014 at 10:22 AM      Reply Aiyana Houston Says:

   A World Without Family
   Inspired by Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son”

   Well, Family, I’ll tell you:
   Life for me ain’t been no slice of heaven .
   It’s had Fights,
   And Struggling,
   And Deaths,
   And places with no light for me to shine.
   But all the time
   I’se been believing,
   And looking forward,
   And reaching for my goal,
   And sometimes going into quiet mode
   Where there was no light.
   So family, don’t you turn back.
   Don’t you feel for me’ Cause you perseverance.
   Don’t you give up now
   For I’se still trying, honey ,
   I’se still reach,
   And life for me ain’t been no slice of heaven.

   Aiyana, 13

   
   
3. April 17th, 2014 at 10:22 AM      Reply Evelyn Glass Says:

   Sister To Sister
   Inspired by Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son”

   Well, sister Khadijah, I’ll tell you:
   Life for me ain’t been no wall of fame.
   It’s had cuts all in it,
   And stabs,
   And torn up clothes,
   And places with no tissue
   In the room.
   But all the time
   I’se been reading,
   And listening,
   And studying,
   And sometimes going in a room
   Where there’s so sister Khadijah don’t you turn back?
   Don’t you stop trying
   ’Cause you think you can’t accomplish
   Don’t you stop now —,
   For I’se still see, honey
   I’se still walk,
   And life for me ain’t been no wall of fame.

   Evelyn Glass, 13

   
   
4. April 17th, 2014 at 10:25 AM      Reply Takeria Says:

   Mom to Daughter

   Well, mom, I’ll tell you:
   Life for me ain’t been no green grass.
   It’s had pack dirt,
   And rocks,
   And ant piles,
   And places with no green grass.
   But all the time
   I’se been focusing,
   And reaching,
   And climbing,
   And sometimes moving through the
   Where no green grass was.
   So mom, don’t you turn back.
   Don’t you sit on your tail
   ‘Cause you won’t get back up.
   Don’t you fail me now
   For I’se still reaching, honey,
   I’se still climbing,
   And life for me ain’t been no green grass.

   Takeria, 13

   
   
5. April 17th, 2014 at 1:03 PM      Reply J'Mya Says:

   Life Ain’t a Good Game
   Inspired by Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son”

   Well, ShortStackk, I’ll tell you:
   Life for me ain’t been no good game.
   It’s had fouls,
   And turnovers,
   And kicks to the curbs,
   And places with no basketball or goal.
   But all the time
   I’se been practicing,
   And dribbling,
   And shooting,
   And sometimes working with my right hand
   Where there ain’t been no scores on the board.
   So girl, don’t you turn back.
   Don’t you stop playing
   ’Cause you a good player.
   Don’t you give up on your dreams
   For I’se still see you trying, ShortStack,
   I’se still see you practicing,
   And life for me ain’t been no good game

   
   
6. April 17th, 2014 at 1:22 PM      Reply K'ayla Says:

   Life For Me Ain’t Been No Fairy-Tale!
   Inspired by Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son”

   Well, Mama, I’ll tell you
   Life for me ain’t been no Fairy-Tail.
   It’s had up’s and down’s ,
   And sometimes felt like I was on a merry go round,
   And places with black and grey everything,
   DULL!
   I’se been hurt
   And heartbroken
   And abandoned and abused
   And sometimes even crying in the middle of the night listening to blues,
   Where are you when I need you?
   So don’t you give up on me?
   Cause I’am the future
   Don’t let go and give in
   For I’se still holding on, Honey
   I’se still strong
   And life for me ain’t been no fairy-tale!

   Kayla , 13

   
   
7. April 17th, 2014 at 2:35 PM      Reply korie Says:

   SISTER TO BROTHER
   Inspired by Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son”

   Well, brother, I’ll tell you:
   Life for me ain’t been no smooth road.
   Its had cracks in it,
   And bumps,
   And rigid gaps
   And places with no paved roads-
   Dirty.
   But all the time
   I’se been running,
   And stopping at unfinished roads,
   And turnin corners,
   And sometimes crossin dark railroad tracks
   Where the street lights don’t come on.
   So, brother, don’t you turn back.
   Don’t you stop now
   Cause you getting tired. Don’t you stop moving on –
   For I’se still moving, brother,
   I’se still running,
   And life for me has been no smooth road.

   
   
8. April 17th, 2014 at 2:41 PM      Reply katrina Says:

   Trina to Jasmine
   Inspired by Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son”

   Well, Jasmine I’ll tell you:
   Life for me ain’t been no chocolate chip cookies.
   It’s had sour milk.
   And rancid butter
   And ovens with no place to heat
   And places with only cold stoves

   But all the time
   I’se been finding new recipes
   And buying fresh milk
   And trying to find a place with heat
   Where people can come and eat
   So, Jasmine, don’t you turn back.
   Don’t you want the delicious cookies?
   ’Cause you going to love it
   Don’t you want to try them?
   For I’se still baking, honey
   I’se still thriving ,
   And life for me ain’t been no chocolate chip cookies

   Katrina,13

   
   
9. April 17th, 2014 at 3:49 PM      Reply Imira Says:

   Friend to Friend

   Well, Marie, I’ll tell you:
   Life for me ain’t been no utopia.
   It’s had razors in it,
   And social workers,
   And medication,
   And places with no freedom—
   Rights.
   But all the time
   I’se been coming out,
   And closing doors,
   And going through more,
   And sometimes falling on knobs
   Where there was no threshold.
   So Marie, don’t you turn back.
   Don’t you fall down and stay there
   ’Cause you will be out too.
   Don’t you stay down—
   For I’se still go through closed doors, Marie,
   I’se still getting back up,
   And life for me ain’t been no utopia.

   Imira

   
   
10. April 17th, 2014 at 3:56 PM      Reply Daisha Says:

    Well sister, I’ll tell you:
    Life for me ain’t been no Magic carpet ride
    It’s had regular floor,
    And scratches,
    And missing wood,
    And no places with magic at all.
    But all time
    I’se been runnin
    And jummpin
    And searching for it
    And sometimes gleaming in the light
    Where no floor at all
    So sister, don’t turn you back .
    Don’t’ you stop runnin
    ‘Cause you ain’t seen your carpet yet
    Don’t settle for less
    For I’se still searchin sister
    I’se still runnin
    And life for me ain’t been no Magic carpet ride

    
    
11. April 17th, 2014 at 4:00 PM      Reply Daisha Says:

    Sister to Sister
    Inspired by Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son”

    Well sister, I’ll tell you:
    Life for me ain’t been no Magic carpet ride
    It’s had regular floors,
    And scratches,
    And missing wood,
    And no places with magic at all.
    But all time
    I’se been runnin
    And jummpin
    And searching for it
    And sometimes gleaming in the light
    Where no floor has been
    So sister, don’t turn you back .
    Don’t’ you stop runnin
    ‘Cause you ain’t seen your carpet yet
    Don’t settle for less
    For I’se still searchin sister
    I’se still runnin
    And life for me ain’t been no Magic carpet ride

    
    
12. April 17th, 2014 at 4:01 PM      Reply Jameya Says:

    Me to World

    Well, world, I’ll tell you:
    Life for me ain’t been no famous person.
    It’s had troubled times,
    And hungry days,
    And financial problems,
    And places with no expensive furniture.
    But all the time
    I’se been climbin,
    And reaching to the top,
    And committing no crimes,
    And sometimes goin my own way
    Where it’s been no ease.
    So world, don’t you turn back.
    Don’t you fall for the wrong way of a famous person
    ‘Cause you don’t remember yourself.
    Don’t you be someone else
    For I’se still believing, honey,
    I’se still fighting,
    And life for me ain’t been no famous person.

    Jameya, 12

    
    
13. April 21st, 2014 at 3:15 PM      Reply Tremia Says:

    Me to Life
    Inspired by Langston Hughes’ “Mother to Son”
    Well Tremia, I’ll tell you:
    Life for me ain’t been no Fairytale.
    It’s had hard nights,
    And broken hearts,
    And even a little struggle nights,
    And places with no pace all in the east.
    But all the time
    I’se been having nightmare,
    And dream,
    And disagreement,
    And sometimes its little tears in my face wondering
    Where to lie.
    So Tremia , don’t you turn back.
    Don’t you stop now
    ’Cause you make to far now.
    Don’t you turn back
    For I’se still cry, honey
    I’se still fight,
    And life for me ain’t been no fairytale.