PEACE AND WAR
from The Wanderer, Kahlil Gibran, 1932

Three dogs were basking in the sun and conversing. The first dog said
dreamily, "It is indeed wondrous to be living in this day of dogdom.
Consider the ease with which we travel under the sea, upon the earth and
even in the sky. And meditate for a moment upon the inventions brought
forth for the comfort of dogs, even for our eyes and ears and noses."

And the second dog spoke and he said, "We are more heedful of the arts.
We bark at the moon more rhythmically than did our forefathers. And when
we gaze at ourselves in the water we see that our features are clearer
than the features of yesterday."

Then the third dog spoke and said, "But what interests me most and
beguiles my mind is the tranquil understanding existing between
dogdoms."

At that very moment they looked, and lo, the dog-catcher was
approaching.

The three dogs sprang up and scampered down the street; and as they ran
the third dog said, "For God's sake, run for your lives. Civilization is
after us."