The A & P

A poem in tribute to John Updike's classic short story "The A & P".

It's the first sight you see
as you come off the bridge
into the little seaside town.

The A & P.

Each time I pass by,
seeing the shoobies
cart their groceries to their SUVs
in the parking lot,

I think of
the never-ending battle
between good and evil
going on inside,

between Lengel, the manager,
running the store by the iron fist
of his cruel morals,

and Sammy,
the chivalrous young knight,
defending the honor and dignity
of three beautiful bikini-clad girls
innocently buying a jar
of pickled herring.