one has returned,
snuffling for bugs at the end of our garden
my eldest joined the Hedgehog Society
because they came, sticker on her window-pane -
ate Hedgehog crisps in solidarity
yet he is different,
has a tag like a criminal -
try to take a selfie, he curls into a ball
he's so rare now
he's a celebrity -
a star of 'Springwatch'
I don't blame his action -
last one was eaten alive by maggots
and the vet put him down
a defiance of spikes,
impression of a weapon -
always on the run.