There was, of course, Achilles and sling-shot
David, Samson, Arjuna—heroes all.
Adored for that firm strength we have not got,
Promoting good, dispelling evil’s pall.
And modern trashy fiction (crass, but fun)
Whose heroes, armed with elbows, feet, and hips,
Can take down surly villains (who needs guns?)
Without a sweat, while mouthing verbal wit
But nothing swells our souls like Hong Kong flicks.
We watch our hero’s shifting eyes, while thugs
Creep up. Then bang-crash, slam-pow! He inflicts
Ten fractures. Scornful, dusting off, he shrugs,
Continues on his search for that arch foe.
(How can the climax match what we have watched?)
He finds that scum—they battle toe to toe—
A distant view—he strikes from crown to crotch!
Triumphant justice—deftly butchered beast—
I watched that bad guy fall, half west, half east!
(11/12/11)