The rose that grew from concrete

YA-A collection of poetry written by the rapper between 1989 and 1991, before he became famous. The poems are passionate, sometimes angry, and often compelling. Selections are reproduced from the originals in Shakur's handwriting, personalized by distinctive spelling and the use of ideographs (a drawing of an eye for I, etc.), and complete with scratch outs and corrections. With the exception of "In the Event of My Demise," all of the pieces are accompanied by typed text, which leaves his spelling intact. Some poems are also accompanied by his drawings. A few black-and-white photographs appear throughout. A preface by Shakur's mother, a foreword by Nikki Giovanni, and an introduction by his manager, Leila Steinburg, in whose writing group the poems were written, complete this unique volume.-Susan Salpini, Purcellville Library, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Section One: The Rose That Grew From Concrete The Rose That Grew from Concrete Autobiographical Did u hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete Proving nature's laws wrong it learned 2 walk without having feet Funny it seems but by keeping its dreams it learned 2 breathe fresh air Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else even cared! In the Depths of Solitude Dedicated 2 Me I exist in the depths of solitude pondering my true goal Trying 2 find peace of mind and still preserve my soul CONSTANTLY yearning 2 be accepted and from all receive respect Never compromising but sometimes risky and that is my only regret A young heart with an old soul how can there be peace How can I be in the depths of solitude when there R 2 inside of me This Duo within me causes the perfect opportunity 2 learn and live twice as fast as those who accept simplicity Sometimes I Cry Sometimes when I'm alone I cry because I'm on my own The tears I cry R bitter and warm They flow with life but take no form I cry because my heart is torn and I find it difficult 2 carry on If I had an ear 2 confide in I would cry among my treasured friends But who do u know that stops that long to help another carry on The world moves fast and it would rather pass u by than 2 stop and c what makes u cry It's painful and sad and sometimes I cry and no one cares about why. Under the Skies Above After the Miscarriage My child is out there somewhere under the skies above waiting anxiously 4 u and me 2 bless it with our love A part of me a part of u and a part of this love we share will protect my unborn child who lives dormant out there somewhere Sometimes in my dreams I imagine what it would be like How could I properly guide him when even I don't know what's right Whether he is born in wealth or poverty there will be no deficiency in love I welcome this gift of life given from GOD under the skies above Copyright © 1999 by The Estate of Tupac Shakur Excerpted from The Rose That Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.