Article

‘WE REAL COOL’

0 0 votes
Article Rating

BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012) — This is a poem written by Gwendolyn Brooks in 1960. With only a few topical updates, it can be used as the epitaph of the Gangsta hip-hop culture that has so permeated and infected America.

Last night, The Professor introduced our current topic in Comp. II — “The American Dream.” We shall be engaging in lively discussions of what this phrase presently signifies.

—– 00 —–

We Real Cool

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)

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.

———————————————————————

WITH THAT, WE BID YOU ADIEU ON THIS FINE, APRIL MORNING. WE HAVE LEFT YOU A POETIC CLUE, AND SHALL CONTINUE IN THIS VEIN, UNTIL THE “5” GREETS THE “01.” AND THOUGH LEO DECAPRIO LOSES HIS GRIP AND GOES DOWN WITH THE SHIP, WE REMAIN AFLOAT.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
21 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
levitan
levitan
12 years ago

“sing sin”, perhaps?

tito
tito
12 years ago

I was talk in to a guy who said Sturgeon is on his way out.

GMHeller
GMHeller
12 years ago

Makes one wanna put on his best hoodie.

Molly
Molly
12 years ago

I think it’s sinking…

GMHeller
GMHeller
12 years ago

Mr. Valenti, speaking of real cool, was there a booking photo in the packet of material you received in re State of Maine v. Angelo Stracuzzi?

Sandy
Sandy
12 years ago

Did you all miss the wonderful post from Susan Moore at the bottom of the blog 2 days ago about the wonderful progress of Peter? I happened to be reading that page late the other night and found it and wrote to her. You should check it out. The whole family is planning on being at Toby’s II walk and Peter is progressing very well. He wil be there! It is at the bottom of York County etc

Molly
Molly
Reply to  Sandy
12 years ago

I think most people DID miss that post. Again, such great news at his progress and my very best wishes for his continued progress toward complete recovery. Way to go, Peter! Keep up the hard work!

dusty
dusty
12 years ago

Off topic (if there was one)

Wondering who now owns the Pennell property on East st. that the taxpayers just got screwed on. Did the city take it by eminent domain and if so and the city owns it, can they not sell it and recoup the money owed the taxpayers?

It might be a good place to park the city school buses and get out from under that huge lease money they pay out now.

Molly
Molly
Reply to  dusty
12 years ago

Good point, dusty! Could we have demolished the building if it wasn’t taken by eminent domain? And also a good suggested use for it if we did!

And no – there was no topic… Again.

Here’s another topic: Why did the Berk. Hills Reg. School District allow Muir to continue being around children for all of these years without taking any steps to limit that? They continued allowing him to have an office in the basement where no one else was likely to find them and that is just intolerable.

Someone on another board brought up the point that this first came to light around the same time that the Baran case was falling apart – if that’s true, then what part did politics play in not bringing charges against him back then?

outfox
outfox
12 years ago

sing sin

Dave
Dave
12 years ago

The Pennell / Grossman’s property would be an excellent spot for a farmers market. The hard surface of the building floor and parking lot mostly still exist and would be excellent to set up on. I would propose farmers be invited to be there any day, not just on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

An every-day farmers market would be good for the farmers that might want to participate and good for consumers.

levitan
levitan
12 years ago

I’m afraid you have no takers for the topic du jour, Dan.

I think the poem is supposed to be sung.

Silence Dogood
Silence Dogood
12 years ago

Poem? What poem?

levitan
levitan
Reply to  Silence Dogood
12 years ago

SD,

I’d recommend against wandering into the dark forest of opining.

tito
tito
12 years ago

Anyone see the coolest dude on the Planet?

Scott
Scott
Reply to  tito
12 years ago

You have to be talking about 32 yo Brandon wood of the latest graylock incident.

tito
tito
12 years ago

Close…..Hollywood.