You set my heart alight.

I stood here for years

Away from the main path

Providing the shade for the bulbs and squirrels

The environment changes

Children call out and play games

The allotments are busy

But people don’t notice me.

I stood here for years

The seasons passed by

And my girth just grew thicker

The wrinkles deepened

And my veins began to rot

But people still don’t notice me.

I stood here for years

When I notice the changes

And my outer skin begins to break down

Smaller creatures take up residence

My core is beginning to break down

But people still don’t notice me.

My time here is limited

It’s lunch time, I hear the bell ring and children call out

There’s a strange quiet

Footsteps approach but only one person

The spark surprises me, but the warmth is surprising

Now people are noticing me.

I stood here for hours

Whilst water covered me

My core disappeared but my girth intact

My charred centre and smoke filled air

I’ll provide a home to different creatures whilst I wait to rot

Then people might notice that I have gone.

The Statue - Albert Rec 2014