War is Kind & Other Lines/The trees in the garden rained flowers

The trees in the garden rained flowers.

Children ran there joyously.

They gathered the flowers

Each to himself.

Now there were some

Who gathered great heaps --

Having opportunity and skill --

Until, behold, only chance blossoms

Remained for the feeble.

Then a little spindling tutor

Ran importantly to the father, crying:

"Pray, come hither!

See this unjust thing in your garden!"

But when the father had surveyed,

He admonished the tutor:

"Not so, small sage!

This thing is just.

For, look you,

Are not they who possess the flowers

Stronger, bolder, shrewder

Than they who have none?

Why should the strong --

The beautiful strong --

Why should they not have the flowers?"

Upon reflection, the tutor bowed to the ground,

"My lord," he said,

"The stars are displaced

By this towering wisdom."