The Human Condition?
compared to what?
the nonhuman condition?
the animal condition?
When?
Then?
Now?
The condition we imposed
unconditionally, relentlessly, mercilessly
on them?
The Inhumane Condition?
We did our worst
to our own
too
but thought the better
of it,
bit by bit,
outlawed it
eschewed it,
toward kin and kind,
mostly…
But do we deserve mercy?
can we even show it?
while we deny it
to them?