The Civil Ape

Pugnaciously fugacious,
Your species, remarkable
For how the pugnacity

Endures at the group level
While the individuals,
Fading quickly, are often

More sweet than pugilistic,
Rarely quick to fight at first,
Eager to cooperate

In most cases, quarrelsome
And petty mostly within
Longer-term relationships,

But entirely capable
Of kindness or politeness
To complete strangers, cordial

Now and then to enemies.
It’s as if your great quarrels,
Your organized violence,

Must fight its own agenda
Across your generations
While your private lives flicker

In and out of existence,
More like other animals,
More calmly, if anything.