Death and we are really cool “The thirst of the sluggard will kill him, because his hands refuse to work” (Proverbs 21:25). The Bible states very clearly in this passage how laziness can be the cause of death. “We Real Cool” is about seven African-American high school dropouts who want everyone to think they are cool. These teenagers explain how they stay out late playing pool, fighting, sinning and drinking. Even though they think they have fooled everyone, they themselves know that the destructive behavior they are participating in will lead to their death. In "We Real Cool," Gwendolyn Brooks uses denotations and sound devices to suggest that although some African Americans often consider themselves cool for dropping out of school, they know in truth that dropping out of school will give them time to engage in studies. sinful activities that will result in a broken and short life. Brooks uses the denotation to suggest that although some African Americans may often consider themselves cool for dropping out of school, they actually know that dropping out of school will give them time to engage in sinful activities that will result in a broken and short life. "We're really cool. We / left school" (Lines 1-2). This explains why these African American teenagers think they are cool because they are high school dropouts. “We / We hide late” (3-4). The fact that they're staying out late just helps explain that these teens are dropouts, because otherwise they wouldn't be out this late. Not only are these young African Americans dropouts who stay out late at night, but they are also fighting. We / Hit it straight" (3-4). While staying out late because they're dropouts, the teens were talking in full paper......about elves being really cool outside because rebellious things that they participate in and want others to describe them as cool too Although on the outside these kids think of themselves as cool and want to give that impression to others, they know the destructive things they participate in will soon be the cause. of their brutal deaths Gwendolyn Brooks demonstrates in her poem "We Real Cool" that although people consider and recognize their own destructive behavior and often think of themselves as being cool, they actually know their destructive actions will be the inevitable cause. of their deaths. Works Cited The New International Version Brooks, Gwendolyn Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama, Ed. New York: Harper.., 1995. 740.