Poem Post #5: Reflecting on: Gwendolyn Brooks, “We Real Cool”

We real cool. We
Left school. We

Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We

Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We

Jazz June. We
Die soon.

       The brief and quickly escalating poem, made up of fragments and phrases, that is We Real Cool, serves as a warning for kids that delivers the commonly known message "Stay in school, kids". It is quick and to the point when asking the question: "Do you really want to live fast, die young?". Looking at the historical context of this poem readers can quickly see that it is from what we would call the "post-modern era", where narrators drift away from common rhythmic tradition and deliver messages more known to the current audience. A particularly interesting aspect of the poem is its consistent, catchy rhythm; with the lines being able to be delivered like a rap song with beat boxing behind it. This effect is created by the use of an artificial pause caused by a line break after the first word of each sentence (except the very first one). This poem has proved to be complex and difficult when attempting to pinpoint a certain kind of foot and meter to it. Although the rhythm stays consistent, the syllables and stressed in each line don't BECAUSE of this artificial rhythm founded on line breaks. I find it very interesting how it is possible to create a stable and consistent rhythm from LACK of measurable rhythm. It's almost paradoxical in a way. I can't help but think about the possibility of meaning hidden behind this complex paradox. The poem is quick and unmeasured... Is that how the "real cool" kids live their lives?, and could this perceived stability represent how common it is for kids to experience this?