Ancient Enemies

How the modern dog does hate the cat!
You’d think this hatred was in their genes.
Encounters between them yield combat,
New meetings replaying ancient scenes.
Africa gives clues to what this means.

Vital to each is the fight for food.
So reaction to rivals is rude.

Large ‘cats’ do dominate the ‘dogs’ there.
Intrusions in their feastings cause fights.
Of one another, each must beware.
Now, dogs elsewhere repay ancient slights.