©1983, 2003 Harvey H. Warwick III

Rummaging through a drawer chock-full of everything else you can think of
Not getting very far due to the rather unusual density of said contents
I wanted to find whatever it was that I thought of a minute ago.
It’s right on the tip of my tongue, but I know I’ll recognize it when I see it.
I find it amazing what everyone’s managed to pack in here so tightly
Almost like a trash can for things that you think are too good to throw out.
Trying to catalog everything in here would be a job for an archaeologist
And it would take a cryptographer just to decipher some of these ancient phone messages.
No one could possibly find these old batteries hidden away in here (assuming they still work)
Camouflaged among numerous paper clips, seed packets, trading stamps, pens, pencils,
Instructions manuals, tickets, golf tees, bee’s knees, and many other etceteras.
No attic, cellar, or closet has ever held such a profusion of paraphernalia:
This hyperdimensional space must be considerably larger on the inside!
I think I’ve discovered the Home for Disabled and Retired Playing Cards
And just look at all of these hand-me-down hairless paintbrushes: they must have been on sale!
But what could I possibly be looking for? I still cannot find it in here;
Maybe another drawer—no, it’s just got to be hiding in here somewhere
Along with everything else that I never can find when I need it.
Wait a minute, what’s this weird-looking thing? I’ll bet it doesn’t belong in here.
It looks like the original muffler from a Model T Ford, or something like that.
No, it’s not nearly that big; maybe it’s surplus hardware for that thing I got for my birthday.
I wish that the labels for stuff like this weren’t always thrown out with the packages:
Anonymous junk is not only confusing but it’s quite often useless, to boot.
In fact, that would make a good game: Name That Piece Of Junk! You name it, you win it!
Of course, that reminded me! This is a game piece that has been missing for a while,
And wouldn’t you know it, I just sold that game not too long ago;
And now I finally remember what I’ve been looking for all this time: my comb!
It’s right here in my pocket, where I should have looked first anyway
Because now I’ve got to put all this stuff back in the drawer—and see if it closes!