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Comment 12 of 12, added on September 3rd, 2007 at 10:14 AM.
While attending an "English Workshop" at Amherst College in the 70's, Miss
Brooks just happened to be visiting the campus one day. She was encouraged
to visit our group. One of our group volunteered to "read" this poem. He
started off by reading the lines "We real cool. We left school. We lurk
late", etc. When he was finished, Miss Brooks asked, "What makes you
think I meant to have the poem read in that fashion?"
She then proceeded to read it as she had intended it to be read:
We real cool. We (emphasis on We)
Left school. We (emphasis). The remainder of the poem followed this
pattern. Read in this manner truly reveals the underlying intent of the
author which was not apparent to the casual reader.
Comment No. 4 alludes to the use of "We" as having special meaning.
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Art from United States
Comment 11 of 12, added on June 5th, 2007 at 10:19 AM.
Your poem is very inspiring and wonderful. THanks
Marcus from United States
Comment 10 of 12, added on April 25th, 2006 at 10:51 AM.
I think this is a great poem to share with students who also think they are
"real cool." It sends a message that is relatable and realistic. It's a
deep poem in few words, which many students think can't happen. My
students are going to read this and then write their own "We Real..." poem,
imitating Brooks's style and simplicity.
Colleen from United States
Comment 9 of 12, added on December 14th, 2005 at 12:49 PM.
I don't think this poem is as preachy to "street kids" as previous posts
have make it seem to be. I think this poem is about youthful rebellion,
when youth bend the rules because it's "cool" that almost every kid of
every race and origin experiences. When Brooks ends with "we die soon", she
means that soon they will grow out of their rebellious nature and discover
their identities. Adolescence is all about identity, and rebellion is one
way of discovering it ^_^
rebecca from United States
Comment 8 of 12, added on November 2nd, 2005 at 6:08 PM.
Coming across this site and the name Gwendolyn Brooks awakened in me the
fondest memories of her. My contact with her was short, just a few weeks'
course in poetry at Northeastern Illinois in the 1960s, but my memory of
them is incandescent. She was warm, welcoming, nurturing, understanding,
sensitive to her students, truly interested in our efforts and always
willing to give generously of her time outside the classroom; she took
seriously my poetic attempts and encouraged me to do more; she was in that
regard a mother to me, then a rather lost young man, and she nourished my
soul. I loved then and still love her unique voice as I loved and love her
human warmth. It was many years before I realized what she meant in my
life, and I never had the chance to tell her or to thank her for the way
and the extent to which she influenced and broadened my spirit, and too
soon she was gone. This is an inadequate attempt to make amends. So,
thank you, my Miss Brooks, for those unforgettable weeks of spiritual
awakening, with their lifelong consequences, and for the permanent and
invaluable gift of your poems.
John F. from United States
Comment 7 of 12, added on October 29th, 2005 at 8:13 PM.
Awesome. It's so direct and powerful. Just Amazing.
Sarah from United States
Comment 6 of 12, added on October 18th, 2005 at 12:14 AM.
I got to a drop-out school and there are so many kids who I would like to
share this with. Kids who are runnin the streets, chasing the Hood dreams,
Tryin' to be "gagstas". If they could only read this and understand that it
ain't so cool, that they have to get educated in order to truly free
themselves from the shackles of poverty. If they could really read this
poem and truly unerstand it, then they could see how foolish it is to play
up to what the world expects us to be. Stupid.
Jenifer from United States
Comment 5 of 12, added on September 30th, 2005 at 9:42 AM.
Where i'm from there are many teenagers who have dropped out of school. If
they were to read this poem they would know you need an education to live.
With out smarts you won't make it. This poem can also be an inspiration to
those who are in school now. It let's them know stay in school nothing is
in the streets.
Nayesha Garrett from United States
Comment 4 of 12, added on September 29th, 2005 at 6:41 AM.
This poem “We Real Cool” is absolutely wonderful. I believe this because
the meaning of this poem is expressed with very few words. This poem
describes the essence of ghetto life. It describes the desperate; those who
are in an extreme need of things other than money. Without really telling
you anything about these seven young men Gwendolyn Brooks tells us all
about them. This poem tells of their fears, their ambitions, and who they
think they are versus who they really are.
The poem begins with the word “We” which is the only line in the poem that
begins in this such manor, despite the fact that the word we is repeated
six more times, throughout the entirety of this poem. The “we” that I
believe is represented at the beginning is the unity that comes from being
with friends. There is no individuality. They are all in the same position.
They are all, “real cool.” However, as the poem progresses the repeated
"We" is seen not at the beginning but, at the end of each line. This
simultaneously displays a certain aspect that was not seen in the first
line. It shows a certain bluster and a distinct uncertainty about the
groups identity or even, as an example of protesting too much, whether
there's a group identity at all. Who is this “We” that they are so
insistent about? Repeated as it is, the “We” gets smaller and smaller--the
poet has in fact said that the "we" is supposed to be read in a small and
uncertain way, thus the reason for the unpunctuated "we" at the end of each
line. That word becomes sort of a question as well as a refrain. The unity
that was seen in the beginning becomes less and less apparent as the poem
continues.
Brooks continues the poem, saying, “We / Left school.” Making even more
apparent the hopelessness of this scenario. Brooks not only arranges the
wording in this poem to show a desperate need, but she speaks of one as
well. The fact that these seven young men have no education shows exactly
how bleak their future is or is going to be. It is also here that the unity
of this group begins to fade. As the poem closes Brooks writes, “We / Die
soon.” I believe this is the perfect closing to a poem about having a false
since of unity, about the wrong path, and ghetto life in general. You come
into the world alone and you are sure to die alone.
Zjanae
Comment 3 of 12, added on September 26th, 2005 at 7:36 AM.
this is a nice poem its very simple
mikayla from United States
This poem has been commented on more than 10 times. Click below to see the other comments.
[1] 2
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While attending an "English Workshop" at Amherst College in the 70's, Miss
Brooks just happened to be visiting the campus one day. She was encouraged
to visit our group. One of our group volunteered to "read" this poem. He
started off by reading the lines "We real cool. We left school. We lurk
late", etc. When he was finished, Miss Brooks asked, "What makes you
think I meant to have the poem read in that fashion?"
She then proceeded to read it as she had intended it to be read:
We real cool. We (emphasis on We)
Left school. We (emphasis). The remainder of the poem followed this
pattern. Read in this manner truly reveals the underlying intent of the
author which was not apparent to the casual reader.
Comment No. 4 alludes to the use of "We" as having special meaning.
/>
Art from United States