Read the poem below and answer questions

Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it, (3)
And splinters,
And patriarchy,
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.

What is the speaker’s message to the listener ?

To never quit

The correct answer is OPTION 2 -  To never quit

• The speaker, likely a mother or elder, shares her struggles in life using the metaphor of a difficult staircase.

• Despite tacks, splinters, and torn-up boards, she keeps climbing and encourages the listener (her son) not to give up.

• She explicitly says:

  • “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’.”

• The key message is perseverance and resilience in the face of hardship.

OTHER OPTIONS

• To continue fighting for equality  (Not explicitly stated; while the poem may hint at social struggles, the main focus is on personal perseverance.)

• To continue climbing  (Partially correct, but the deeper meaning is not giving up, rather than just "climbing.")

• To turn corners  (The phrase "turnin’ corners" is used in the poem, but it’s about life’s unpredictability, not the core message.)