Published in 1960 in her collection The Bean Eaters, We Real Cool is a popular poem by Gwendolyn Brooks. It perfectly captures the voice of a group of young African American men who represent defiance and rebellion. The poem consists of eight lines. Born in 1917, Gwendolyn Brooks was a renowned poet, novelist, and educator and is celebrated for her profound contributions to American literature.
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.