Poem explication "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks

We real cool. We

Left school. We

Lurk late. We

Strike straight. We

Sing sin. We                          5

Thin gin. We

Jazz June. We

Die Soon.

                In this poem the speaker ironically shows that being cool comes with many dangerous deeds. He emphasizes this idea through the use of repetition and rhyme. Each line ends with We. This shows that the mob and gang cultures arises in a group. It is not just one person. Many people may do it because they are followers of others as well. The rhyme in this poem is sing song like and light, this rhyme contrasts with the actions that are actually taking place in this poem. Although it sounds sing song like, “sing sin” and “thin gin” are not actions that are light and airy. In this poem there is end rhyme and alliteration. This artistic nature of the poem contrasts with the nature of these deeds. It is ironic to think of gangsters as singing sin. This poem is a good piece of art because it shows truth about life in a way that the reader will remember. The poem is beautiful to read, and it says truth so it is likely readers will learn a message from it.

                She starts of the poem by comparing cool and school in the same stanza. Right of the bat he shows that leaving school is cool in these people’s eyes. But throughout the poem the speaker questions this idea. Is leaving school actually cool. Leaving school is associating with “lurk late”, “strike straight”, “sing sin” and “thin gin. These are not “cool” actions. Those that leave school get involved in the crime life. They may be “cool” in their minds, but these people are not advancing at all in life. The last line is the most powerful line of the poem. It says that these actions of leaving school and hanging out with you friends will lead to death soon. This line is scary for anyone reading it. Many would think that leaving school and playing hooky is not big deal, but it actually is.