Summary

“We Real Cool” begins with what looks like stage directions, as the first stanza presents a scene of “The Pool Players” (1), clarifying that they are “Seven at the Golden Shovel” (2). With characters and setting established, the remaining stanzas are occupied by the Pool Players’ dialogue, which is spoken from a collective “We.” The Players introduce themselves in the second stanza as “real cool” (3), elaborating that they “Left school” (4). In the third stanza they describe their nighttime activities, saying they “Lurk late” (5) and “Strike straight” (6). In the fourth stanza they specify other activities they enjoy, saying they “Sing sin” (7) and “Thin gin” (8). The final stanza alludes to a sexual-musical pastime with “We / Jazz June” (8-9) before they end the poem by declaring “We / Die soon” (9-10).

Analysis

“We Real Cool” offers both a suggestive window into jazz culture as well as a script ripe with...