Shannon and Brandy By Ellyssa Pearce

Brandy went to a party

Shannon stayed at home

She didn't make it pass the second year

She stayed and helped

Then moved out and worked

She worked until he swept her

Off her feet and gave her

Three children, she was sad

For years trying to forget or

Trying to remember

But she’s happy now with her

Girls growing up with her

Brandy never left the car to

The party, but she came home

As someone different

And never lived her life.

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Sadie and Maud

by Gwendolyn Brooks

Maud went to college.

Sadie stayed at home.

Sadie scraped life

With a fine-tooth comb.

She didn’t leave a tangle in.

Her comb found every strand.

Sadie was one of the livingest chits

In all the land.

Sadie bore two babies

Under her maiden name.

Maud and Ma and Papa

Nearly died of shame.

When Sadie said her last so-long

Her girls struck out from home.

(Sadie had left as heritage

Her fine-tooth comb.)

Maud, who went to college,

Is a thin brown mouse.

She is living all alone

In this old house.