My Little 'Bout Town Girl
by Gwendolyn Brooks

My little ‘bout town gal has gone
"‘Bout town with powder and blue dye

On her pale lids and on her lips
Dye sits quite carminely.
I’m scarcely healthy-hearted or human.
What can I teach my cheated Woman?
My Tondeleyo, my black blonde
Will not be homing soon.
None shall secure her save the
Detective fingers the moon.

My little boy next door has gone
To school with his leather jacket and comb
On his back and in his hair
He was the boy from next door, never there. 
I am no longer my mother’s little girl.
How will I speak to my betrayed friend?
My little friend, my secret
Not to return.
No one will know I wasn’t home
On those late nights.
 

The Crazy Woman
by Gwendolyn Brooks

Waiting For Rain
by Jordan Wolfinger
Inspired by "The Crazy Woman"

I shall not sing a May song.
A May song should be gay.
I'll wait until November
And sing a song of gray.
I'll wait until November.
That is the time for me.|
I'll go out in the frosty dark
And sing most terribly
And all the little people
Will stare at me and say,
"That is the Crazy Woman
Who would not sing in May."

I shall not picnic on this sunny day.
A sunny picnic would be too gay.
I’ll wait until it rains
And eat drenched.
I’ll wait until a rainy day.
That is the time for me.
I’ll go out in the wet cold
And eat my soggy food
And all the little children
Will look out their windows and say,
“That is the Crazy Woman
Who would not picnic on the sunny day.”