"Life for me ain't been no crystal stair" shows that the mother didn't have an easy life and had to work hard at everything.
Hope this helped! Let me know if there is anything I need to clarify or explain more in depth
Answer:
I think its biography. I hope it works.
~best wishes
The word alone can be read several ways this is suggested by "To me alone..." she is stating that only in her opinion it is a time or pause. Hope this helps!
