Lonely Hearts

Written in 1986, Wendy Cope seems to have brought to life the email dating system long before its' time. "Can someone make my simple wish come true" the poem begins. Happiness is simple and most sought after in this life. Lack of happiness tends to turn the lonely times to desperate times. The biker, the gay vegetarian, the executive, the jewish lady, the libran all write their letters to Box 152 to have their wish come true. A wish that when granted brings them "happiness" ; gives them that significant other they've been looking for. Someone out there, living in north London, that would be willing to step out of the normal routine of things to date or sleep with or drink coffee with the individual writting a letter. Sometimes this act of desperation is hard for me to understand. I've never had a problem being alone. I'm secure enough in myself to understand that not every guy is going to fall for me. I've been in enough relationships to know that no one can completely fulfill my every wish. To ask for someone, a stranger, to make your wishes come true is completely irrational. It doesn't make sense. Who would do this? Apparently those writing to Box 152 have no hope of finding love or a partner on their own. They resort to mailing a complete stranger their information and photo and make themselves completely vulnerable to any and all perverts who prey on those types of individuals. Wendy Cope did a wonderful job of depicting the ways of desperate people, looking for an answer to their dreams.
I greatly enjoyed the poem, even though I do not completely understand the views of the characters within. I can imagine, and only imagine, how these characters must feel to lower themselves to such an action. I'm sorry if this blog is a little rough!!!
Thanks for reading!