Our nature is inescapable.
It will always be there - we are, after all,
Only Human.
Animals, like any other,
"Better," we reason,
Because of  our brains, our hearts, our souls.
We can feel things. We can sympathize.
We can build big, great, complex things.
We can make judgments between right and wrong.
We have imagination and creativity and ingenuity on our side.
We can love.
And it is reasoned that all these things make us special.

The truth of most of humanity
Is we give in to our nature,
Compete,
     Even destroy one another.

Two runners on the road,
One behind the other, but soon will pass.
First Place has two choices here.

He can let the Second Place pass.
He is, after all, superior in ability,
And that is nothing to feel ashamed of.
First can race Second as well as he can,
And cheer for Second as he claims the name of First.

His alternative,
With pride and greed in his way,
Is to best Second at any and all costs.
And so he begins to plot:
As Second Place passes him,
He'll ensure they'll keep their titles,
And First Place will put out a foot,
Or perhaps with a shove of his arm,
Trip Second Place up,
Maintain the lead,
Win the race.

Too few would cheer for Second Place in our world.
We live our lives under the suppression of individuals
Who do not care for other's successes,
For fear that they may fall from greatness.
That they will lose power.

We are no better than the nature we live within.
Not at the moment, at least.
Perhaps we are better,
Perhaps greatness is within our reach,
True greatness,
Where we lift one another,
Do not seek only that which will benefit us,
But that which will benefit others,
That which will benefit all.

As long as pride and greed
Are allowed to poison our minds,
We will walk these roads,
And let nature run its course.

**I wish all of humanity good luck in such a world.