In The Poem Mother To Son What Does The Speaker Compare Her Life With?

In the poem mother to son what does the speaker compare her life with?

 

The speaker compare her life with at the "Life for me aint been no crystal stairs" meaning that life has never been easy as you think. As you climb on it, it wont be easy because there are tacks on it, splinters, the boards are torn up,the places with no carpets on the floor bare. Meaning that there will always be challenges. No matter how hard it is you still have to climb it, dont you ever give up