Ulysses

“kitchenette building” by Gwendolyn Brooks (1963)

This poem centers on key themes in Brooks’s canon. Like “Ulysses,” this poem addresses the difficulties of life. Here, the speaker of the poem is a poor Black woman in an urban house with the kitchenette symbolizing the experiences of the woman. The poem asks about the possibility of fulfilling a dream deferred. This poem echoes notable works by Langston Hughes and Lorraine Hansberry, also artists associated with the Black Arts Movement.

“Sadie and Maud” by Gwendolyn Brooks (1963)

In this poem, Brooks describes the diverging lives of two girls: One girl leads a more socially approved life than the other, who goes to college but lives alone. Despite leading different lives, both women end up unhappy, suggesting that women struggled to find a clear path to fulfillment during this period. Like “Ulysses," this poem allows Brooks to reflect upon the struggles for Black Americans.

“We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks (1963)

“We Real Cool” is another of Brooks’s most well-known poems. In this poem, a group of teenagers hang out at a pool hall, imagining themselves to be rebels. While this attitude and their behavior will possibly kill them, the poem takes a more complex stance on their behavior.