THE REAL NAME OF THE A & P

was: “The Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company.”

When I read its name I wanted to drink tea.

And so I started drinking tea. And then I moved

to the South and started drinking sweet tea.

And then I peed blood and the doctor said:
“You’ve got kidney stones and you have to 

stop drinking sweet tea.” And so I married 

a girl named Bethy. I think of Bethy now, 

her face covered with funnel cake, her lips 

so tender, underneath a summer moon 

was Bethy, her neck so white and soft.