Interpretation of the poem line-by-line
Did you hear..
Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? – Here, the author appeals to the reader or listener, stating that the rose that grew through concrete is a legendary story that is likely to be around like some kind of miracle.
Provin nature’s laws wrong – Roses are very tender flowers that need a lot of care and specific conditions of the soil. Hence, the fact that it grew from concrete is unnatural.
It learned to walk without having feet – Same as growing from concrete, walking without feet could be a metaphor for doing the impossible. The rose’s qualities are compared to human qualities like feet and the ability to walk, implying that it could be a metaphor for a human being.
Funny it seems but by keeping its dreams it learned to breathe FRESH air – – the analogy with humans here is more evident as humans have dreams and idealistic constructs that create their own unique perception of the world and their place in it. Once again, the author points out that staying loyal to one’s dreams is contradictory to the way most people are, so it is funny. By keeping the dreams, the rose managed to breathe fresh air, which is a metaphor for true fulfillment, which cannot be achieved by the polluted air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else, even cared (Shakur 20) – Tupac celebrates the miracle of the rose that grew from concrete that managed to survive despite the odds.
The Main Messages and Primary Purpose of the Whole Poem
The poem by Tupac Shakur is, in many ways, a reflection on his own life and struggles. Being an artist, he compares himself to rose, whose sole purpose is to entertain and amuse people. Yet, like a rose that grew from concrete, he had to overcome many struggles and find resources in soil that was artificial and not substantial. This refers to the history of racism and segregation in the United States as Tupac, as being a member of African American community, felt the oppression that the system had posed on him and his friends and relatives. Therefore, the rise to fame and success as an artist despite the odds of racism and suppression can be compared to the rose that grew from the crack in the concrete. Alternatively, he can refer to the state of the African American culture in general as the whole population for centuries suffered slavery, racism, and discrimination and yet managed to shine through and express themselves.
Work Cited
Shakur, Tupac. The rose that grew from concrete. Simon and Schuster, 1999.