“Human Interest” [by Ernest Hilbert]

The Cyclops gets it in the eye,

            Goliath by God’s will,           

And now we think the little guy

            Will always get the kill.

The nerdy girl will bag the hunk,

            The local band get big,

The kids find gold in dad’s old trunk

            While grandma does a jig,

Jack—acned, stooped, and awkward—

            Trick the ancient giant,

Skinny Arthur extract the sword,

            Intern land the client,

The farmer’s boy, newly knighted,

            Become the chosen one,

Ages of unfairness righted

            By a less-than-favored son,

As if, for sake of a story,

            Awful odds are annulled,

Fictions fielding hopes of glory

            Where none should be fulfilled.