Plato and the Pigeons

by Edward Keyes

"Justice is the interest of the stronger."
Unaccountably the words seized me,
dredged up from sixth-form schooldays.
  Four of us in Greek master's study
  poring over Plato
  longing for lunch.

Socrates gave verbal come-uppance, but theme persists,
  defended by dictators,
  actualised in bloody record
  of history's inhumanities.

Here by this quiet park-pool
The theme writes itself close and small,
  I feed scraps to expectant pigeons.
Predatory gulls swoop down, intercept,
carry off with fierce beaks,
  pigeons minor casualties
  in time-worn travesty of justice.