Etching paint

Protected from the corrosive cleaning solution
by thin plastic gloves--fifty for two dollars--
we run out of rags. Old boxer shorts stand in
to dress down the kitchen cabinets of a new old home
in preparation for a fresh coat of paint,
orange with blue accents.

A chair dragged in from the dining room
to reach the top shelf behind the fridge.
There: a plastic bag filled with pills
inscribed "watson 387." We run to
the next room where a google search
confirms our hunch.

Eyebrows raised, the cleaning continues
on to the corner cabinet next to the sink.
Xanax, Somnex, a cigarette.
Above the stove, a dried long stem rose.
Incredulous laughs, we snap a photo of the haul.
Last cabinet, a silver 24 hour sober chip.

Trading guesses at the story behind it all,
the gloves begin to tinge brown and tear;
the etching agent stronger than we'd thought.