Primitivity © 08 Barry Gardner

I threw some scraps out for the birds
‘Twas early last July
Then sat back in my favourite chair
To watch the world go by

Some starling landed on my lawn
One made off with some bread
Two others instantly changed course
And hustled him instead

He dropped the bread, the others pounced
On it with untold glee
‘Twas at this point a fight broke out
It all seemed strange to me

The bread would feed at least the three
Still leaving quite a surplus
Which meant that their hostilities
Had no apparent purpose

Moreover, several other crusts
Were scattered over the sward
With sundry cakes and vegetables
A regular smorgasbord

Over, which I then discerned
Still other ran amok
So peaceful co-existence
Was unheard of in this flock

Instead, I saw aggression
Wanting what others had
Shortsighted narrow-mindedness
It made me feel quite sad

Why did they do the things they did?
I couldn’t see the need
They seemed possessed by selfishness
By envy spite and greed

But I shouldn’t be surprised I guess
‘Cos all that I was seeing
Is behaviour that one should expect
From such a lesser being

Yet another species acts this way
And has since time began
I can’t be proud -I’m one of them
A Creature known as MAN.