The last snowman standing

Alone at the gate,
Stands a giant man of snow.
His stick arms outstretched,
In his eye, a frozen tear.
He's the last snowman standing.

I spotted this chap the other day when he was being built and he looked magnificent. But today, as the snow recedes, he looks rather sad. A weak smile and resigned smile and one eye closing over with melting ice.

I heard on the news that a council (Hereford & Worcester I think) are advocating that everyone builds snowmen to try and avoid the inevitable flooding that will come with a thaw. I'm not sure of the science behind this, or if it's just a distraction - but I rather like the idea of serried ranks of snowmen as a flood defence.