Analysis Of The Poem We Real Cool

The title of the poem, “We Real Cool” is the same as the first line. It allows us to realize that the speaker will be mimicking the voice of a group of seven young men in a pool hall. In the poem, Brook’s use of language and tone is extremely straightforward and precise. Her mocking tone allows the reader to envision beyond the words the author used to portray the seven pool players and the inevitable course of events leading to their dark and tragic futures, in her short poem concentrated on rhyme in a couplet format. Each line has a meaning to support it. In the first line, “We real cool” (1) supports the author in outlining the insecurities of the young men, need to be associated with something, to be in solidarity with others, and fear

of standing alone. This line expresses arrogance among the young men, therefore, they believe that they are doing more interesting and “cooler” things than the other children their age. Towards the second line “We / Left school” (1-2) the author conveys these young men are dropouts and are hanging out at the neighborhood pool hall, rather than achieving their education and becoming responsible young adults, because their new found reputation does not permit them to abide by the rule of school. The next lines 2 through 3, “We Lurk late” (2-3) helps the author to imply that these young males have no respect for a curfew. Their desire to stay out until late hours of the night establish a negative illustration of their juvenile delinquency. In lines three through four, “We / Strike straight” (3-4) may lead readers to believe that this line of the poem confesses to the violent activities of the Pool Players using fists and weapons to strike their enemies. Although the term strike does not have any association with playing pool, but it is a term commonly used for baseball and bowling. In addition, in lines 4 through 5 of the poem, the “We / Sing sin” (4-5) provides the author an opportunity to connect religion into the poem, inferring that the song the young men choose to sing is seen as sinful. From generation to generation, music seems to progress to became more explicit, and many adults complain about the lyrics of songs and the sexual content that songs express. Many believe the harsh lyrics and sexual content causes corruption among young impressionable children like we see in these seven young men.

Also, in lines 5 through 6, Brooks indicates “We Thin gin” (5-6) relates that minor children are indulging in alcoholic beverages. This illustrates illegal business and events occurring as the young boys pride themselves on their behavior and bad habits. In lines 6 through 7, “We / Jazz June” (6-7) provides the reader with the idea of sexual intercourse between the young men and a female named, June. Jazz is a genre of music, but in other terms jazz is a response in slang to something that the listener does not wish to listen to. “You talking all that jazz” in other words is complete nonsense. However, outside of music the word jazz has a tarnished tone attached to it. Therefore, June is always be capitalized due to the fact that it is a month out of the year, and it can also be a name of a woman whom one can have sex with, but one cannot jazz a month. Finally lines 7 through 8, “We / Die soon.” (7-8) are intended to catch the attention of the reader because the author foreshadows the early death of the seven pool players due to the inevitable course of events that the young men are engaging

in.

Gwendolyn Brooks uses a combination of pattern, rhyme, assonance, and alliteration to develop a poem in which the theme echoes within the mind of its audience.

With the use of such a sarcastic and straightforward tone in her poem, “We Real Cool”, Brook’s enforces the poem’s theme using patterned repetition. This repetition makes it apparent to the reader that Brooks is suggesting something completely opposite from what she is saying, and creates a poem with much more direction and meaning. Repetition is seen throughout the poem with, “We Real Cool”, in lines 1 and 2, “We / Left school. We / Lurk late” (1-2). The pattern proceeds throughout the stanzas in the poem, each sentence beginning with “We” and containing three syllables. Each sentence suggests a moment of pride and satisfaction. This is clear in “We Real Cool” in the very first couple lines “We / Left” (1-2) where Brooks conveys the act of dropping out of school. Even though dropping out of school may alleviate the young men’s immediate dislike for a structured schooling environment, it will affect their long-term future. Apart from its subtitle, "The pool players, seven at the Golden Shovel”, "We Real Cool" is made up of four stanzas, each of which is a two-line couplet. Each word throughout the poem contains only one syllable. Although most traditional couplets in poetry contain a rhyme at the end of the line, this poem takes rhyming to a new level where the couplets rhyme in the middle. For example, the rhyming

words "cool/school" (1-2) in the middle of the first stanza, and the rhyming words "late/straight" (3-4) followed in the second stanza. However, the pause after each rhyme word effectively makes it sound like the rhyme is at the end of the line. It's almost as if every line ends on a rhyme word, and "We" is added on as a grace note. In line 4, Brook’s pronounces "Strike straight” (4) by laying into the first word and backing off the second slightly. She literally "strikes" at the first word like a fist coming down on a piano. If one were reading the poem, they are likely to give both words the same amount of significance, but Brooks lengthens the first beat just a little bit, creating a syncopation. Also, in line 6 when she writes, "Thin gin," (6) it sounds like several people yelling and clanking their glasses so hard they're about the fall off their bar stools in the pool hall, "Thiinnnnn Ginnnn!" Even to some readers, may actually interpret the line, "We real cool," as sounding like an ironic whisper that is saying, "No, you're not. Stay in school!" However, if one may read it out loud as Brook’s seems to do, the irresistible pull of the rhythm can lead them to relate to the young men and sympathize with them.

Analyzing the poem, “We Real Cool,” by Gwendolyn Brooks, it is concluded to be a rather short and precise poem that implies several different meanings depending upon the reader's interpretation through the author’s use of figurative language, sounds, and rhythm throughout the poem. Brooks does an extraordinary job providing the perspective inside the lives of seven young men who have made the ultimate sacrifice of their young lives for fun, adventure and entertainment. The long-term harmful effect that these young men are causing themselves and others will bring their lives to a premature end, with no one to blame, but themselves in their youthful actions and decisions. The last activity the author describes he seven boys do is "thin gin” (6) which means to water down the alcohol so that they can make more money, which they likely both at the pool hall. Without achieving an education, it severely limits ones opportunities to improve a life for themselves so they turn to illegal occupations to support their families and to pass the time. By engaging in these kinds of illegal behavior, they are giving up on themselves and all that they are capable of with tremendous opportunity.