We Real Cool

For a poem of only few short lines, Brooks fills it with heavy meaning and possibilities as only a poet can. The seven we's could be meant to be for each of the seven pool players. The "Thin gin" could mean drinking a lot, ice with gin, or watered down from the bar. "Strike straight" could mean smoking, pool, or punching someone. Regardless of what the meaning behind each specific thing "we" do, it is very obvious these pool players live staying up late, leaving school, living fast and high only to die young. In the first line the "Golden Shovel" could be a place or could be describing the way they are choosing to dig their own graves with the way they live, by their own way of "staying gold" like The Outsiders. It's very negatively Carpe Diem...or is it?

20/20 Vision

Brewer wrote an impressively short composition called "20/20" but within the first paragraph he includes just enough exposition and character description in just a few lines that you get a feel for the characters. The comical way he describes the two main characters, Bill and Ruthie, you learn where they are each from and other differences between them, like the way they think and carry conversation. This piece of work, though only a few paragraphs is my favorite so far for all the reasons above but also because the point of view switches allowing the reader to see first from Bill's logical perspective then to Ruthie's whimsical thoughts.

"Cathedral" Changes

The frustrating way the husband in "Cathedral" thinks in stereotypes is only redeemed by his eventual character development towards the end of the story. Moreso, I don't believe I would have even enjoyed it if the blind man, Robert, had told him to keep his eyes closed to see the cathedral they were drawing, however the husband redeemed himself in my eyes by deciding on his own to see the way Robert does. As frustrating as it is, it reflects the truth that you cannot change a person, they have to choose to change themselves.