Wild dogs have mastered the rules of chaos.

They don’t care about justice.

Put a few strangers together a new pack forms fast;

complete respect and lightning treason.

It could go either way, if a fight breaks out;

maybe an eye is blinded by the sun and a greeting interrupted -

personal space is violated.

Or a crooked wag or snort says “Fuck you” instead of “Hi”.

Most of the time it is over quickly.

One blinks; a victor is decided, an order established.

No one dies.

But sometimes there is a fever in the blood, a smell in the air,

and favor topples like vicious dominos falling toward one unlucky dog.

It is the butterfly effect. Then it’s twenty to one -

and someone dies.

This is the way it is with dogs. There is no “thin veneer”,

just order, the butterfly effect, and death.

Humans have also mastered the rules of chaos.

They are interested in justice.

Put a few good friends together and a party forms fast;

complete cohesion and lightning cruelty.

It could go either way, if a girlfriend of yours walks by,

maybe a beer is spilled and a dirty joke is interrupted -

personal space is violated.

Or a crooked smile or chuckle becomes “Let’s fuck” instead of “How do you like your math teacher?”

Most of the time it is over quickly.

The offender blinks; respect is regained, civilization preserved.

No one is raped.

But sometimes there is a fever in the blood, a smell in the air,

and misfortune topples like bricks on the head of one unlucky girl.

It is the butterfly effect. Then it’s twenty to one -

and someone is raped.

This is the way it is with men. Sometimes they rip holes in the “thin veneer”

and make you wonder how they can be so god-damned evil.