Bedside Table

Veneer peeling
bubbled coffee cup ring impressions
modem, pill box, books,
jar of Vicks Vaporub
exchanging space daily
drawer askew, as though
suffered paralytic stroke
frozen
pulled out with effort
inside front... earbuds,
toothpicks, bookmarks
collected over the years,
medley of all sorts

deep inside...unmentionables
decaying like teeth infected.