the rites for Cousin Vit

“Sadie and Maud” by Gwendolyn Brooks (1945)

In her well-known lyric poem “Sadie and Maud,” Brooks also highlights unconventional women. In this poem, Sadie lives a life like Cousin Vit. Like Cousin Vit, Sadie is “one of the livingest chits / In all the land” (Lines 7 -8). Similar to “the rites for Cousin Vit,” Brooks uses peculiar language: A “chit” is a British word for an unruly, disrespectful young woman. The word could also apply to Cousin Vit. As with hysterics, it appears as if Brooks repurposes “chit” and makes the pejorative term a compliment. Maud, in a sense, is the opposite of Sadie and Cousin Vit. Maud abides by norms and winds up “a thin brown mouse” (Line 18) and “living all alone” (Line 19) in an “old house.” (Line 20). Her life is neat and lacks energy and, presumably, happiness.

“the mother” by Gwendolyn Brooks (1945)

“the mother” is one of Brooks’s more controversial poems. In “the rites for Cousin Vit,” Brooks arguably alludes to abortions. In “the mother,” Brooks explicitly addresses them. The first line reads: “Abortions will not let you forget.” In this poem, the speaker is the mother. Even though she has had abortions, she still considers herself a mom: “You remember the children you got that you did not get” (Line 2).