‘WE REAL COOL’
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.
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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.
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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.
“sing sin”, perhaps?
I was talk in to a guy who said Sturgeon is on his way out.
Makes one wanna put on his best hoodie.
I think it’s sinking…
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?
No, I didn’t receive such a photo. Is there one?
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
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!
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.
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?
sing sin
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.
Great idea, Dave.
I’m afraid you have no takers for the topic du jour, Dan.
I think the poem is supposed to be sung.
All poems are supposed to be sung.
Poem? What poem?
SD,
I’d recommend against wandering into the dark forest of opining.
Wise advice.
Anyone see the coolest dude on the Planet?
You have to be talking about 32 yo Brandon wood of the latest graylock incident.
Close…..Hollywood.