Five: Chairs surrounded by one empty table they too, free and unassuming Empty. Contents seized by ceramic tray of ash bolster snow inside; cold, hard wire support beams --talking-- pass snow through. Unseen pale ceramic-- butts, extinguished, moist musty, odor-- silent, blanket white, soft petals of Spring between wire spokes of five good friends.
MMXI
A patio in pre-spring midplains. An empty society.