Not so long ago,
on the cosmic scale,
humans communicated largely 
through grunts and 
facial expressions
and body language–
and by swinging clubs

they still do
(ride every day in a subway car
and you will see plenty
of grunting, gesticulating humans,
some of which do, indeed, swing their bags,
umbrellas, knives)

life has always been dangerous,
but we are the real danger:
“higher life form” perhaps best defined 
as “one capable of discovering new ways 
to harm”

we use our “intelligence” for
selfish pursuits and
too many of us
take actual delight
in the suffering of others
(are we not the animals?)

yet it is unwise to ignore:
those without
their own clubs
are easy targets