Sadie and Maud by Gwendolyn Brooks

Maud went to college.Sadie stayed home.Sadie scraped lifeWith a fine toothed comb.

She didn't leave a tangle inHer comb found every strand.Sadie was one of the livingness chicksIn all the land.

Sadie bore two babiesUnder her maiden name.Maud and Ma and PapaNearly died of shame.

When Sadie said her last so-longHer girls struck out from home.(Sadie left as heritageHer fine-toothed comb.)

Maud, who went to college,Is a thin brown mouse.She is living all aloneIn this old house.