Capturing the unrivaled passion and candor that made him one of America's bestselling solo recording artists, this collection of poetry offers a glimpse into Shakur's enigmatic life and its intense contradictions.

Tupac Shakur recorded twelve landmark albums -- nine of which went either platinum or gold. A consummate actor, he also appeared in six major motion pictures, including Poetic Justice, Juice, GridLock'd, and Gang Related. He was murdered at the age of twenty-five.

Acknowledgments

xi

(2)

Preface

xiii

(2)

Afeni Shakur

Foreword: Tupac, C U in Heaven

xv

(4)

Nikki Giovanni

Introduction

xix

Leila Steinberg

THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE

3

(34)

The Rose That Grew from Concrete

3

(2)

In the Depths of Solitude

5

(2)

Sometimes I Cry

7

(2)

Under the Skies Above

9

(2)

Life Through My Eyes

11

(2)

When Ure Heart Turns Cold

13

(2)

Untitled

15

(2)

The Eternal Lament

17

(2)

Only 4 the Righteous

19

(2)

What of Fame?

21

(2)

The Shining Star Within!

23

(2)

Starry Night

25

(2)

If I Fail

27

(2)

What Is It That I Search 4

29

(2)

The Fear in the Heart of a Man

31

(2)

God

33

(4)

NOTHING CAN COME BETWEEN US

37

(68)

Nothing Can Come Between Us

37

(2)

My Dearest One!!

39

(2)

If There Be Pain...

41

(2)

Things That Make Hearts Break

43

(2)

Black Woman

45

(2)

And Still I Love U

47

(2)

The Mutual Heartache?

49

(2)

1st Impressions

51

(2)

A Love Unspoken

53

(2)

Forever and Today

55

(2)

When I Do Kiss U

57

(2)

Carmencita of the Bronx!

59

(2)

Untitled

61

(2)

Love Is Just Complicated

63

(2)

Elizabeth

65

(2)

I Know My Heart Has Lied Before

67

(2)

From First Glance

69

(2)

1 for April

71

(2)

Wife 4 Life

73

(2)

Tears from a Star

75

(2)

March 1st--The Day After April

77

(2)

Why Must U Be Unfaithful

79

(2)

The Power of a Smile

81

(2)

Genesis (The Rebirth of My Heart)

83

(2)

Love Within a Storm

85

(2)

What Can I Offer Her?

87

(2)

Jada

89

(2)

The Tears in Cupid's Eyes

91

(2)

Cupid's Smile II

93

(2)

What I See!

95

(2)

In the Midst of Passion

97

(2)

2 People with 1 Wish

99

(2)

Hours Pass By

101

(4)

JUST A BREATH OF FREEDOM

105

(30)

Just a Breath of Freedom

105

(2)

For Mrs. Hawkins

107

(2)

The Sun and the Moon

109

(2)

"Fallen Star"

111

(2)

Government Assistance or My Soul

113

(2)

Family Tree

115

(2)

Or My Soul

117

(2)

When Ure Hero Falls

119

(2)

Untitled

121

(2)

"U R Ripping Us Apart !!!"

123

(2)

A River That Flows Forever

125

(2)

Can U C the Pride in the Panther

127

(2)

Tears of a Teenage Mother

129

(2)

"Where There Is a Will..."

131

(4)

LIBERTY NEEDS GLASSES

135

Liberty Needs Glasses

135

(2)

How Can We Be Free

137

(2)

The Promise

139

(2)

And 2morrow

141

(2)

No-Win

143

(2)

The Unanswerable?

145

(2)

Nightmares

147

(2)

So I Say GOODBYE

149

(1)

In the Event of My Demise

150

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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

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.