Consider the potential tension between the voices of the speakers in the two poems “Mother to Son” and “Motto.”

While “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes portrays a voice that expects no gifts and has no expectations, “Motto” portrays a voice that expects a quid pro quo relationship with effort. In “Mother to Son”, the “Mother” says “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair … But I’se been a-climbing on”. The Mother is explaining to her son that he should not be deterred by challenges he faces but rather fight to overcome them no matter the difficulty. On the other hand, “Motto” states, “Dig And Be Dug In Return” which suggests that actions should be done with the expectations of being reimbursed. The voice in “Motto” lacks the motivation of “Mother” who expects nothing but rather puts her head down and fights through her issues.