Friday, May 30, 2025: Loretta Oleck's "Wonder Woman"

 

Wonder Woman

Teenager in NYC, 1977

I was Wonder Woman—Jordache jeans skin-tight like stockings

tucked into worn-out, stiletto boots.

 

Fifteen, but could easily work my way into Studio 54's VIP room

where Grace Slick and Lady Divine were snorting lines.

 

I was embraced as their mascot because I smudged thick ink black

under my blue eyes and was the spitting image of Wonder Woman,

 except, I didn’t have her powers.

 

It was the seventies, and I had read, cover to cover, Our Bodies, Our Selves.

Discos were mine—fields where asses were grabbed, shooting ranges

where sex was snagged, strange, deranged theme parks where mental looting

and body arson were formidably encouraged.

 

Einstein said—If you want your children to be intelligent read them fairy tales.

 

I don’t remember female heroines, but I guess they had to be princesses,

or at the very least look like Wonder Woman.

 

Steinham said—The future depends entirely on what each of us does every day;

a movement is only people moving.

 

And people sure did move, shaking their booties in shiny silver hot pants.

I boogied under pulsing strobe lights, having no idea my body had rights.

Why did I not hear the words of Steinham, Brownmiller, Millett?

After all, it was the seventies, and I had read, cover to cover, Our Bodies, Our Selves.

I wish someone had said—Take off the damn cape and crown, girl, the tiara and gown, girl.

I wish someone had told me—There is no happily-ever-after.

© 2025 Loretta Oleck

Loretta Oleck, is a Pushcart Poetry Prize nominee, Westchester County Poet Laureate finalist, and author of three poetry chapbooks. Her work has been published in reviews and journals worldwide. Her poetry has been performed at the Hudson Museum of Contemporary Art, The Hammond Museum, and others. She was a Finalist in the Poet’s Billow: Bermuda Triangle Prize, Mary Ballard Poetry Chapbook Prize finalist, First Honorable Mention in New Women’s Voices Series Chapbook Competition, runner up for the Los Angeles Poetry Society Poetry Contest, finalist in the Jack Grapes Poetry contest, among others.