"Bueno, hijo, te diré: La vida para mí no ha sido una escalera de cristal"
— Langston Hughes
Simplified Meaning:
The speaker is telling their son that life has been difficult and full of challenges. Instead of being smooth and easy like a crystal stair, their journey has been bumpy and tough. Imagine climbing a staircase that’s old, with missing steps, and covered in splinters. It’s not straightforward and requires effort and perseverance to keep going. In real life, this can be similar to someone who grew up in a poor neighborhood, where getting an education and a good job is hard. They might have faced many obstacles, like financial problems or lack of support, but they kept pushing forward. The advice here is to understand that life can be hard, but it's important to keep moving forward despite the difficulties. So, when you face tough times, remember to stay determined and keep working towards your goals, just like the speaker did.