There’s a crowd kibitzing about
a cement-molded
checkerboard table
an elderly black fellow
and a young Hispanic kid
on a chessmen rumble
near the winter-dried fountain
football tosses so many stealthy runners.
Benched readers take comfort from warm books.
An old man asleep on a park bench
under blankets of newspapers
littering the park
page by page.
Chessmen clocking stratagems—
breathing vapory breath
signaling tells of awe
intimidating swift moves
wintry swish at the Washington Square.
By Curt Robbins