Ted Hughes — Law in the Country of the Cats

When two men meet for the first time in all Eternity and outright hate each other, Not as a beggar-man and a rich man, Not as cuckold-maker and cuckold, Not as bully and delicate boy, but As dog and wolf because their blood before They are aware has bristled into their hackles, Because one has clubbed the other to death With the bottle first broached to toast their transaction And swears to God he went helpless black-out While they were mixing smiles, facts have sacked The oath of the pious witness who judged all men As a one humble brotherhood of man. When two men at first meeting hate each other Even in passing, without words, in the street, They are not likely to halt as if remembering They once met somewhere, where in fact they met, And discuss 'universal brotherhood', 'Love of humanity and each fellow-man', Or 'the growing likelihood of perpetual peace', But if, by chance, they do meet, so mistaking, There will be that moment's horrible pause As each looks into the gulf in the eye of the other, Then a flash of violent incredible action, Then one man letting his brains gently to the gutter, And one men bursting into the police station Crying: 'Let Justice be done. I did it, I.'