Moai

He’s weathered some storms, that’s for sure.
The passing years have hit him hard
and living by the windswept shore
has left him beaten, gouged and scarred.

He turned up here overnight.
His arrival was a secret,
organised by a few who might
have had a pint or two, then bet

each other, some ten years ago,
that they could sneak him in, across
the border, and no one would know
quite how. Most didn’t give a toss

but those in charge regarded him
as an illegal immigrant.
They initially took a dim
view of the ‘surprise’ and did want

him gone. But he proved popular
with visitors, and with locals.
Much photographed, he’s quite the star.
Or was, until he lost his looks

and began to fall apart. That
some hammered coins into his head
(with a sturdy shoe, a beach bat?)
whilst making a wish, has added

to his ongoing disfigurement.
He is still standing but I fear
he might not be around next year.
His passing’s something I’ll lament.


Extra shows him ten years ago, in his prime.