LIX. - Wonder Woman - transversion of a sonnet by Baudelaire from The Crown of Pain

LIX. – Wonder Woman

Imagine Diana and her gallant retinue

Charging through the forests bursting through the thickets,

Mane and throat to the wind, drunk on uproar,

Superbly defiant the best riders!

Have you seen Wonder Woman[1], lover of carnage,

Happily defending the down-trodden,

Cheek and eye aflame, enfevered in her role,

Assaulting, sword and shield in hand, the staircase?

Just like Gal Jadot[2]! But the gentle warrior

Is as much a charitable soul as she is a seasoned killer;

Her courage, panicking in the explosions and drums,

Is to know when to put aside weapons before suppliants,

And her heart, ravaged by both fire and pain, is always,

For those who have some dignity, also a reservoir of tears.  

---

[1] In place of the name Théroigne which according to my Flammarion notes is a reference to Théroigne de Mericourt ( 1762 – 1817) who was involved in the French revolution in 1792, the poem makes reference to a particular incident which happened upon a staircase. This same woman appears in the famous French historian Michelet’s Histoire de la Révolution francais, and she also appears in the poet Lamartine’s Histoire des Girondins. Baudelaire was inspired apparently by a drawing by the artist Raffet depicting the incident and which was published by Pommier & Pichois. As the historical connection would be completely lost on contemporary readers, I have supplanted it with the reference to the movie Wonder Woman. You have to choose your battles. I was particularly impressed by the character in the film while watching it with my ten- year old daughter, as I thought it was a very good role model for young girls. This, I believe, is in direct accordance with the symbolism and underlining metaphor in the poem. 

[2] Baudelaire’s reference is to another actress, Elisa Neri, who played the role of Théroigne, from what I understand, in theatrical productions during Baudelaire’s day. The poet came into contact with her through his attachment to Mme Sabatier who was to have such an impact on him. I am of course referencing the climax of the Marvel movie when Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot, confronts Ares the God of War.