"Lonely Hearts" by Wendy Cope

With its three line stanzas and brief statements, this poem is set up in such a way that it resembles a newspaper add from the "personal section." It describes the outcasts of society- the male biker, gay vegetarian, bisexual woman, Jewish lady- who long for love just as the "accepted" members of society do. Each stanza gives a short description of who the person is and what they are looking for when it comes to love. Obviously, these people are lonely and let lonesome feelings compel them to seek love. The stanzas are filled with desperation as at the end of each either the question "Do you live in North London?" or "Can someone make my simple wish come true?" is posed. Aside from desperation, the poem also gives an air of satire. Needy, picky people who have the "perfect" image of someone in his or her closed mind and look only for that person are seemingly made fun of.