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Ryan Mohtajolfazl

Prof.: Marie-Therese Blanc

Writing English 101

1 November 2018

Pride in Gwendolyn Brooks’s “We Real Cool”

In Gwendolyn Brooks's "We Real Cool," Brooks describes seven dropouts playing in a

pool bar and celebrating their identity in the 1960s. In doing so, she creates a poem that

demonstrates pride in their lives with the hint of death in an ironic way. Moreover, through the

preamble, the verses of the poem, the rhyme "We'' at the end of each verse illustrates a sense of

unity within the community.

Throughout the poem, the use of the preamble suggests to the readers that these men are

enjoying their time together. In addition to this, "The Pool Players/Seven at the Golden Shovel"

advocates the readers that they are playing pool. In the game of pool, one can lose when the eight

ball sinks before the others, thus the use of "Seven" symbolizes a loss of life. It is followed by

the subtle use of irony with "Golden Shovel". The latter entails the victory of an individual

whom has lived their life to their fullest, and it is not time to dig up their graves following

retirement. In other words, they are honored with the gift of a golden shovel: the gift of death.

Brooks's use of this irony hints to the readers that there is pride even when death supersedes.

Secondly, the verses "We real cool/We/Left School/We/Lurk late," (1-2-3) and "We/Die

soon" is a chant that expresses fulfillment in their actions. Although death is nearing with "We

Die Soon," the subjects of the poem are happy about their freewheeling, and irresponsible

lifestyle. In other words, their chosen path to living life without any limitations and boundaries is
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a victorious ending to their chapter of life. That being said, Brooks's use of rhyming conveys the

above message.

Lastly, the rhyming notions of "We" in "We/Sing sin/We/Thin gin/We/Jazz June" (4-5-6-

7) suggests a unity within the community of this collective of men. Furthermore, "We/Sing sin"

(4-5) is a celebration of their sins followed by "We/Thin gin" (5-6) which is the action of diluting

gin in water for a long-lasting effect. "We/Jazz June" means that they are in May-June

relationship with a much younger woman for status purposes. This adds another element of pride

to the poem with the notion of death nearby because this was considered uncommon and sinful at

the time the poem was written. In brief, these men lead a hedonistic lifestyle with their singing,

drinking, and relationships, even though, death is on the horizon.

In brief, with the preamble, the verses in the poem and the use of the external rhyme

mentioned above, this poem conveys pride within the community of men with the hint of death

through their actions.

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