Best Grocery Store Poems
Marching down life’s highway, my feet became very sore
I then came upon a sign that read “Heaven’s Grocery Store”
When I got closer the doors swung open wide
Next thing I knew I was standing there inside
I saw a flock of angels positioned everywhere
They handed me a basket and said, “Child shop with care.”
Everything a human required was in that grocery store
With many commodities to carry, you could always come back for more
First I acquired some Patience; Love was in that same row
Further down was Understanding, you require that everywhere you go
I grabbed a box of Wisdom and Faith, a bag or two
And obtained Charity of course but more than just a few
And then reached for Courage to help me run this wicked race
My basket was almost full but remembered some loving Grace
I then chose Salvation for it was advertised as free
I tried to collect enough of that for both you and me
Then I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill
For I thought I had everything to do the Master’s will
As I went up the aisle, I saw Prayer and proceeded put that in
For I knew when I stepped outside I was bound to encounter sin
Peace and Joy were plentiful, the last thing on that shelf
Song and Praise were hanging near so I just helped myself
Then I asked an angel, “Now how much do I owe?”
She smiled and said, “Just take them wherever you may go.”
Again I asked, “No really, how much do I owe?”
“My child,” she said, “God paid your bill a long time ago.”
Small town grocery stores nowadays are very rare indeed,
But in simpler times they supplied a family's every need.
As a Hoosier lad, I worked in Mr L B Owen's Grocery Store,
In charge of absolutely nothing, but was given every rotten chore!
Poor Mr Owens was prone to go into a very ballistic state,
At the least of my many blunders - he could really get irate!
If I caused a crash of his neat display of vegetable soup,
He'd scream, "Stack it again, you incompetent nincompoop!"
It was a social club where neighbors met each Saturday night.
Men in overalls, women in calico - what a varied sight!
Ladies bartered with shrewd Mr Owens their eggs and butter,
While seeking bargains midst the narrow aisles and clutter!
Ah, but the sights, sounds and smells will e'er remain with me;
The squeaky floor, the odor of onions, the fresh ground coffee,
The butcher wielding his cleaver, slicing orders to please,
Barrels of dill pickles, colorful fruits and wheels of cheese!
There wasn't a PA system blaring, "Cleanup needed on aisle four!"
Nor surly, gum-chewing cashiers - he would've shown them the door!
Even in my stumbling, bumbling way I tried to be of service,
But I suspect my feeble efforts made Mr Owens, very, very nervous!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
Waiting at the Grocery Store
Looking around, my fingers fidgeting a multicolored scarf,
Searching through pockets for a letter that needs to be read,
a phone call message I need to hear, but there are none.
And I am going over the list one more time,
Standing semi-still under artificial lights,
Balancing on alternate limbs
For a carton of skim milk, a loaf of French bread, coffee grounds, cream.
With the arm of a dangling child, a mother rushes by
Pushing cold rubber wheels across the linoleum.
The frantic woman at the register cries about her coupon.
Preparing for a battle, she shakes her head
And waves the war flag,
Fifty-five cents off a box of Lucky Charms.
She spits discontent at a tiny, gray haired cashier.
“Expired?”
In the distance a child is being abused.
There will be no gum, no M&Ms, no sugar-silence.
The man behind me chimes, “Man, these lines. Never seen such lines.”
And he lies about a place where there are no lines.
He looks in my eyes, tries.
I barely nod, no need for provoking conversation.
Like the man at the bar who mistook, “Hello” for “Let’s go ****.”
The back of my head still throbs.
And I hate them all.
And I shift away, burning in my skin under the artificial lights,
Waiting for waiting.
A Bear in the Grocery Store
By Elton Camp
The greeter on the grocery side
Screamed as her eyes grew wide.
Never had she seen that before.
A black bear walked in the door.
Customers looked to see the matter.
Spotted the bear and began to scatter.
The public address began to blare,
Ordering associates to come there.
Customers were asked to leave the store.
“Just right now, we can’t sell any more.
Leave your shopping carts where they are,
Quietly and orderly file out to your car.”
The bear seemed to think all was fine.
And all orders to leave he did decline.
Only a deep, angry growl need he say
To make all the associates back away.
“I won’t risk incurring the bear’s rage.
Why, they only pay me minimum wage.
The manager’s the one who should care.
So, it is up to him to get rid of this bear.”
The bear stopped for a big bite of fruit.
Then the beef counter he began to root.
Once he seemed to have enough to eat,
He then reared up high on his hind feet.
The bear let out with a ferocious roar
One that completely emptied the store.
But when workers arrived from the zoo,
They were ones who knew what to do.
So, it was easy enough, in their eyes,
The wild bear to simply tranquilize.
The local newspaper had this to say:
“Wal-Mart had a bear market today.”
If we don’t have time for the supermarket,
there’s a store on the corner for what we can get.
For years, it has stood.
The quality and service are good.
We get what we need and more
at the CORNER GROCERY STORE.
I try to pass the powdered donuts
They jump off the display
landing happily in my grocery cart.
I am next met by a shelf full of potato chips.
Lays – my favorite brand.
They throw themselves at my face.
I catch a bag in midair.
What kind of grocery store is this? I wonder.
Marie Callender’s lemon meringue pie laughs
and begins chasing after me.
How're you doing?
I'm doing fine
Everything good?
Knock on wood
What's new?
Not much
Take care
Stay in touch
How's business?
Never better
Come back soon
It'll be my pleasure
What's going on?
Same old stuff
How are things?
Good enough
How're the kids?
A lot of fun
Going so soon?
Gotta run
See you later
Have a nice day...
Thanks for shopping
~ Don't forget to pay!
I just got home, what a shopping syndrome. In the parking lot, they were shouting put on your mask or be shot. Take a clean cart at the door, they said with a loud roar. The shopping aisle have one way signs, go the wrong way a get some fines. Go to check out and stand on the square, if you don't they will kick you into the air. Back in the car I can now relax, what a shopping climax. Is this the way it is going to be, then I want to just flee.
Date Written 7/25/2020 Choice 1: Craziest Time At WORD COUNT 96
I am parked in front of a store
There is hamburger inside with my man
He asked if I wanted to come in.
Not on your life.
I have already spent fifty dollars today
On doggy treats at the dollar store
The daily limit I allow myself to spend
Here he comes now
With a giant sack
Full of goodies
He never limits himself
Written by Gail R DeBole
on May 30, 2020
(A Song)
Trying to stay alive at the grocery store.
Trying to safely get to aisle four.
You avoiding me.
Me avoiding you.
Trying to get to aisle four.
Trying to get
Trying to get
Trying to get
To aisle four.
Trying to stay
Trying to stay
Trying to stay
Alive in the grocery store.
Finally found my food
Not in aisle four.
Now I have to pay
And safely walk to the door.
Finally found my food
Finally found my food
Finally found my food
In the grocery store.
Now I have to pay
Now I have to pay
Now I have to pay
And get out through the door.
You avoiding me.
Me avoiding you.
The COVID-19 foe
Has us acting
All confused.
What a powerful foe!
Back and forth we go.
Trying to avoid the virus
Wherever we go.
Trying to stay alive
Trying to stay alive
Trying to stay alive
Wherever we go!
She went searching for peace at the grocery store.
Those shelves were all empty, her people at war.
There were loaves of loss and heartbreak over by the bread.
"We have a sale on hatred," the store manager said.
She found boxes of empathy mixed in with the teas and
told the young cashier, "I'll take two boxes please."
She went searching for peace at the grocery store.
Those shelves were all empty, her people at war.
He took up a lot of space
for a skinny guy.
Arms shooting out from his pits,
grabbing this and that.
Neck jutting left and right
and all the time
occupying the middle of the aisle.
Being older and fatter,
I paused my shopping cart,
waited
pretended I didn't want
to shove his ass into
the canned peas.
That moment I step in- front, automatic sliding
doors, of my favorite grocery store 'open-wide'
slide apart this transcends my being, automatically...
into manifest...
visions of what were to come- entered in a time
she was gliding down a busy Aisle, on her way
to unpredictable places, then at that moment...
instantly- I'm all a glow, watching her go-ha-go
near decorative doughnut tables...
silk blouse, tight fashionables everywhere
on her person, pausing to read labels...
pricing all their bargains, that catch her eye-
frustrated, unable to make eye contact- I sigh
she is not really there, just a figment, are you still with me...
see now curves around a corner, while pushing my
cart, passing all their Can's, bustling by...
they mean nothing to me...
vegetable bins are full, ripe melons, tomatoes
so red, but such a nice peach- I wipe my lips...
instead of bending for a bag of potatoes
honey-bun moseys on over to a frozen section
then turns to reveal, restricted capillaries...
while viewing that - content an all calories...
I'm thinking what they would be like, bouncy
now in my direction...
embarrassed- my revelation started to fade
disappear...
Oh my! out-of-sight-
gone- my Favorite Grocery Store Vision.
He took up a lot of space
for a skinny guy.
Arms shooting out from his pits,
grabbing this and that.
Neck jutting left and right
and all the time
occupying the middle of the aisle.
Being older and fatter,
I paused my shopping cart,
waited
pretended I didn't want
to shove his ass into
the canned peas.