We Real Cool
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.
Even though all of you now reading my blog could quite easily open your reader to see this poem I just had to post it on my blog again because I just love how it looks, I love how it sounds, and I love how it reads. I’m not sure I can explain why but this poem is extremely appealing to me.
I mentioned in class how I relate it to “Only the Good Die Young,” by Billy Joel. At first, this may sound a bit peculiar, as these “bad boys” are obviously certain that they will die soon but this is not the main point. This group of guys, much like the character in the song has their way of doing things and is more concerned about fun than what others think and both are rebelling against the system.
These guys are, in fact, “sticking it to the man.” These guys are the true “American Dream.” Everyone wants to have fun but they are just too afraid of the consequences. People are afraid of sinning for fear of what the afterlife might bring. These guys are like James Dean, like the Rat Pack, like the Greasers in The Outsiders, and many other American “tough guys.” This is, perhaps, why I like it so much.
We all go to school and live our “proper” lives because that’s the way you are supposed to do it. These guys, the pool players, are not afraid to break the norm and do what they want to do. Why should they put themselves through the pain of school when they can just shoot pool with the guys instead? This poem embodies the people that people in the dominant culture secretly envy--the counterculture.
1 comment:
It is funny to compare the different prespectives we have about this poem. Although I do like the poem, I do not like it nearly as much as you do. What I picture is a bunch of lazy, problematic gangster from across the street that only play around all day like little kids. These people have a kid mentality that they might never get out of. I am pretty sure it is not so easy to get away from this lifestyle because they have been surrounded by it their whole life. I see it as a circle that cannot be broken unless you really want to. It is also a way to get out of what our duty is as citizens and as humans: We are here to make this a better place not only for ourselves but for other people. Great job with your analysis.
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