We Real Cool

We Real Cool

By Gwendolyn Brooks

The Pool Players.

Seven at the Golden Shovel."We real cool. We""Left school. We""Lurk late. We""Strike straight. We""Sing sin. We""Thin gin. We""Jazz June. We""Die soon." Translation 

Wir [sind] echt cool 

Von Gwendolyn Brooks

Die Poolbilliardspieler.

Sieben im Golden Shovel ."Wir [sind] echt cool. Wir""haben die Schule abgebrochen. Wir""bleiben bis spät draußen. Wir""treffen zielsicher. Wir""verdünnen Gin. Wir""jazzen den Juni. Wir""sterben bald." Topic 

Historical background:  DURING Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968)

Segregation --> identity issues

Plot: seven young boys playing pool at a pool house called “the Golden Shovel”

We die soon.

Style

language:

- written in everyday language

- anaphora & alliteration

Form & Meter:

- 4 stanzas

- only 1 syllable

- rhyme in the middle

- regular meter with 3 beats & a pause

symbol: 

- golden: ironic name for the pool hall

- june: got rebeled by the boys

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/244278