We Real Cool Poem Analysis | eNotes

The poem ‘We Real Cool’ by Gwendolyn Brooks focuses on a group of individuals probably pool players, who are of a relatively young age. There are seven players with a feeling of satisfaction with the life they are living. First, competing ideas are evident in ‘We Real Cool’ as the group uses phrases like ‘We real cool (1), Left school (2)’ to mean the comfortable life they are leading after their decision to stop going to school (Brooks, 1960). Hence, by being cool, it portrays how they are not competing with any other situation rather than their calm. Also, there is contrast in the poem’s title ‘We Real Cool’, which gives an impression of a non-violent group of individuals who are doing things in a pleasant way. However, the poet says ‘Sing sin (5), Thin gin (6)’ implying that the group is composed of rebellious individuals (Brooks, 1960). The line ‘Sing sin (5)’ refers to the likelihood of the group having negative connotations on religious aspects. So, they sing songs that are against religious demands including Jazz. Similarly, the line ‘Thin gin (6)’ displays how these youngsters get drunk of alcoholic spirits showing how different they are from the title. Moreover, rhyme due to the words sin and gin yields musicality and rhythmic tune in the poem to emphasize contrast. Furthermore, complex ideas are present because this poem has been composed, thus, it requires deeper intervention to derive their meaning. For instance, the line ‘Sing sin (5)’ may be extensive with a complex meaning. It means going against rules or oaths but not necessarily pointing to religious faults. Another complex idea from the poem is the likelihood of the youngsters not getting appropriate guidance due to the character they display including striking lurk and leaving school. The youngsters are left to pursue a wrong life without someone’s directions or guidance, hence, they are going to ‘Die soon (8).’ 

Reference 

Brooks, G. (1960). We Real Cool. In G. Brooks, The Bean Eaters. New York: Harper Perennial.