I have read "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien. This story is a fictional story about a young man who was drafted for the Vietnam war in his first years of college. This book describes the coming of age of multiple characters in its portrayal of each character individualistically. It shows how fast each of these young men had to grow up after joining the war and the difficulties they faced. It is easy to forget how young these guys are because of the things they say or the actions they must take. There are many moments in the book that make you stop and go "Hey wait. These are just kids," and it really shows the maturing process and the stresses of war in addition to suddenly being thrust into adulthood.
Answer: The woman within the poem is comparing her life to a stair case.
Explanation:
At the beginning of the poem, she immediately states "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." Comparing her life to that of a staircase with no problems and then explaining her life was far from having no issues.
As the poem continues she explains that "her staircase" has splintered, torn up boards, and bare. These things imply issues she has when living her own life. She uses anaologies such as imperfections and darkness in "her staircase" in order to enhance the comparison to her life or staircase.
