"Lonely Hearts" by Wendy Cope

After reading Wendy Cope’s poem, “Lonely Hearts,” I could not help but notice the prominence of all different personalities and characteristics of people. This poem was probably one of the most realistic and relatable poems I have read, because the characteristics of the people mentioned within the poem are all characteristics of people I meet on a daily basis. However, the poem also relates all of these seemingly different people to each other. Whether a biker, a vegetarian, Jewish, bisexual, or successful, most people all yearn for the love and care of another. By connecting all of these various and random traits and personalities together, Cope successfully points out one of the most universal and central desires of all people. The poem repeats, “Can someone make my simple wish come true?” (Cope, 974). This phrase clearly portrays the wants of people and the measures they will take to find the love that everyone needs. While everyone is unique in their own ways, there is also someone equally unique out there for each person. Through her poem, Cope was able to not only connect seemingly different people; rather, she was also able to portray the deep desires of people.