Speaker

"We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks

Gwendolyn Brooks was a post-war poet born in Topeka, Kansas. As a teenager she began writing and publishing eventually becoming the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize. She ultimately died in her Chicago home in 2000.

We Real Cool

THE POOL PLAYERS.
SEVEN AT THE GOLDEN SHOVEL.

We real cool. WeLeft school. We

Lurk late. WeStrike straight. We

Sing sin. WeThin gin. We

Jazz June. WeDie soon.

In Gwendolyn Brooks poem "We Real Cool" there are obvious characters present. The first two lines of the poem let us know that there are seven pool players--probably young boys. The speaker of this poem, according to Brooks herself, sees these boys playing pool during school time. She then begins to wonder what is going through their minds, what they're thinking of themselves. These boys, young enough to be in school yet old enough to skip on their own and go to the Golden Shovel, are rebellious and the author is speaking as if they are the ones talking. The words of this poem are the thoughts of these young boys. Rather than being judgmental, the author is simply being curious as to what is running through the minds of these boys. The tone of the speaker in the poem would be rather contemptuous. The boys are very proud of what they do and very willing to broadcast their actions. The language the author has them use, as in incorrect grammar, is to emphasize the fact they skip school and the overall arrogance they might have. Also, it is to show the "too cool for school" attitude they possess.