In just a few lines, Dave Bonta sketches a brief encounter and the uneasy feeling that lingers around it. The poem opens with an exclamation, "O the rot," which sounds almost like a sigh or a groan. Rot is a strong word, and it sets a sour tone right away. The speaker seems to see something decaying in the places where people "invite / use and ease," as if offering yourself for convenience or comfort carries a hidden cost.
The second stanza turns quieter and more concrete. Two people part after music, having shared "a one-night bed." Nothing dramatic happens, and that plainness is part of the effect. The poem doesn't say outright how the speaker feels, but the word "rot" suggests regret or disillusion, perhaps a sense that something pleasant has also been hollow. The title, "Refresh," adds irony: the night promises renewal, yet the poem hints at staleness. The mood is wistful, a little bitter, and very restrained.