she sat in the sun under a white visored cap

the wind fingered and lapped her clothing

stirred her stringy hair that could use a healthy wash

she sat still

her eyes transfixed

watching things that werent going on around her

or hearing their sounds  the abrupt laughter  the murmur of conversations  the clatter

of silverware at china plates  the poking stabbing fork play  the slight grind of knives

when brutally sharp knives would have been elegantly efficient

or the comic animated harping of cellfones demanding attention and compliant diners

deftly turning aside ignoring the people they sat to eat with

she sat in an ivory pool of sunlight and like a plant at photosynthesis absorbed what 

no one around her wanted

the patio surrounding her was shaded with overlapping colored-canvas umbrellas and  

hugging the facades of the eateries were long sharp awnings

a white paper napkin escaped a distracted diner and tumbled and did somersaults and

got caught up on the wheel of her chair

a sympathetic flag waving in the silver air

truce

surrender

she did not acknowledge it

the air stilled

the dining clamor rose

she blinked  and suddenly the curtain came down on whatever it was she was watching

she was disturbed

snapped from her reverie

with the flip of her ruddy arthritic thumb

she switched her electricity on and rode out of the melting sunlight

the napkin escaped again

and fell and laid still

holding a spot that no one seemed anxious to take

people walked around it

no one stooped to pick it up

                                             and he remembered when people once wore white scarves

over their nose and mouths to avoid contracting the Black Plague during the Middle Ages

under the cries:

Bring out your dead Bring out your dead!

1406,  Wednesday,  12  6. 13