The opening stanza explicitly identifies the setting of “We Real Cool” as “the Golden Shovel,” presumably a pool hall or bar that welcomes an underage clientele who have “Left school” (4) and provides them with a space to “Lurk late” (5), “Strike straight” (6), “Sing sin” (7), and “Thin gin” (8). Based on these activities, readers can assume that the Golden Shovel is part of jazz’s underworld. Though Brooks only mentions the setting once at the beginning of the poem, this pride of place underscores the Golden Shovel’s importance as a space where both the freedom associated with jazz, and the possible dangers associated with that freedom, come together. In fact, the reference to “Seven at the Golden Shovel” (2) reads as stage directions for a possible performance of the dialogue that follows, allowing readers to question if the Pool Players’ speech is a true reflection of a fast lifestyle...