who’s got the pen? (a poem)

This weekend, I picked up a copy of Tupac Shakur’s The Rose That Grew From Concrete.

I’m not sure how I’m just now getting this book; until the last couple of years, Tupac was my all-time favorite rapper–he was dethroned by Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole is making a strong case to move into second place.

The Rose That Gew From Concrete is a book of Tupac’s poems, and today will be the first Daily Note that was technically written in advance–it was not intentional, but after reading some of his poetry this morning, I felt inspired to share a poem that I wrote last fall. I have bigger plans for this poem, which I will not share until the project is done, but Tupac made me realize it has been sitting in my notebook for far too long.

Who’s Got The Pen?

your life began as a blank book,
the pen in your hand
to write the most epic story the world has even seen
somewhere along the way, you handed that pen away
​Who’s got the pen?
​parents,
teachers,
social media,
society
all looking to help you write a safe story
the predictable story
the story they wish they could have written,
but didn’t
​Who’s got the pen?
​most of the ghostwriters come from a place of love
not knowing they place their fears, biases, and limitation on you
hoping to write a better story through you
yet, destined to write a sequel much like the original
unable to know what you are destined to be
​Who’s got the pen?
​the gifts you will bring to the world,
if only you were allowed to be free and in control
while most ghostwriters come from love, many come from a darker place--
control,
manipulation,
self-interest,
misery,
and we know misery loves company
if they can’t live authentically,
then neither should you
​Who’s got the pen?
​and worse, your pen is used to write you in their story as a supporting character
you aren’t even the star of your own life story
if we could all live authentically, the wealth, pay, and gender gaps would narrow,
and they know that
you think you have free will,
the choice to design your life
but if you look closely
​Who’s got the pen?
​be careful though,
once you examine
once you realize
once you understand
you can never go back
I’m not Morpheus
and you’re not Neo
but it is a red pill, blue pill moment
don’t be afraid
just be prepared
be prepared to realize you might not be where you want to be
where you should be
where you were created to be
​Who’s got the pen?
​be prepared,
be prepared,
be prepared…
to take back your pen
‘cause the remaining pages in your life story remain blank
​Who’s got the pen?

See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

JC