“We Real Cool” Short Analysis

We real cool is one of the unique poems written by Gwendolyn Brooks. If we see the structure of this poem, it mostly uses subject “we” in all of its stanza. Thus, the emphasize of  this poem could be “we” the seven pool players. It emphasizes the unity, togetherness and the identity of the group instead of an individual group.

This poem seems to use the up and down tone. Most of the reader of this poem may think that what this group do is kind of dangerous thing. Even, what they do is not a crime, but it can harm themselves. Yet, in my opinion, this group may think that all they do is cool instead of the dangerous thing.

The uniqueness of this poem also comes from the stress of the words. If we want to analyze further, we can find out that some of the words have only one syllable which means that those are the important words which is being stressed and emphasized. If we change the stress into different words, then the meaning of this poem can slightly change. For instance, in the sentence “we real cool”. If we give stress on the word “we”, it means that this poem emphasize the unity and togetherness of the group. Yet, if we change the stress into “cool”, the empasize of this poem may be only the activity which is done by this group.

In addition, the written “we” in every end of the line show us that it gives the continuity. This group cannot be separated. Besides, it may also give us the meaning that, they always do everything they consider as a “cool” activity together within the group. However, when they have reached to the end (dying), they are separated. They cannot be together anymore. 

On the other hand, for the application of this poem in the real life, I have never found anybody like “we” in this poem who do this kind of dangerous thing. I hope I never have friends like them since the “cool” term in my opinion are different with the “cool” thing in the poem.