THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE
Poem By Tupac Shakur
You try to plant something in the concrete, you know what I mean?
If it grows and the rose petal got all kind of
scratches and marks, you're not going to say, "Damn, look at
all the scratches and marks on the rose that grew from
concrete"
You going to be like, "Damn! A rose grew from the concrete?!"
Same thing with me, you know what I mean?
I grew out of all of this
Instead of saying, "Damn, he did this, he did this"
Just be like, "Damn! He grew out of that? He came out of
that?"
That's what they should say, you know what I mean?
All the trouble to survive and make good out of the dirty,
nasty
unbelievable lifestyle they gave me
I'm just trying to make something.
When no one even cared
The rose it grew from concrete
Keeping all these dreams
Proving nature's laws wrong
It learned how to walk without having feet
It came from concrete
Did you hear..
Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the
concrete?
Proving nature's laws wrong
It learned to walk without having feet
Funny it seems but by keeping its dreams
it learned to breathe fresh air
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else, even cared
You see you wouldn't ask why the rose that grew from the
concrete
had damaged petals. On the contrary, we would all celebrate
its
tenacity. We would all love it's will to reach the sun.
Well, we are the rose - this is the concrete - and these are
my damaged petals. Don't ask me why, thank God, ask me
how!
Narrative by Shannon Munford
Tupac Shakur has become a modern day martyr for many of
today’s urban youth. He was more than a gangster rapper. He
was a poet who spoke to the pain and hopelessness of a
people. In September 1996 Tupac was tragically murdered in a
hail of gunfire.
The rose that grew from concrete speaks of those who surface
from tragedy into triumph.
If Tupac saw a rose I walked through a rose garden last
night. The United Friends of the Children is a non-profit
organization that provides support services to more than
2,000 current and former foster youth each year. UFC works
to provide foster youth with the opportunity to finish high
school, find housing, attend college and build the skills to
support themselves.
Last night I had the opportunity to discuss anger management
with about 30 inspiring young people. In a society in which
youth are demonized it was a breath of fresh air to see a
group young adults focused and poised for the future.
The young men and women I met with were between the ages of
18-23 years old. They lived in a multi-unit apartment
complex rented out to emancipated foster youth.
Many of the youth have traversed a life polluted by drug
abuse, sexual abuse, gang violence neglect and abandonment.
At some point they were all removed from their family of
origin and placed in foster homes or group homes. Now at 18
they were forced to fend for themselves as “adults”.
Instead of a group of angry, bitter rebels I found a
cohesive group of funny, optimistic certified nurses, child
care workers, administrative assistants, food service
workers, university students and future military men.
Last night I walked through a rose garden. I saw branches
firm and reaching, hues bright and assorted and experienced
the sweet aroma of future success.
Daybreak Counseling Service
next article
|
