Lonely Hearts- The Rhyme, The Reptition, The Like..

In the poem "Lonely Hearts" by Wendy Cope, the structure is that of a villanelle. With the required repetition and rhyming of two lines consistently, the form is incredibly appropriate for the poem and its purpose. It seems as though all of the speakers are desperate, and we see that with the continuous repetition of "Do you live in North London? Is it you?" (Cope 973) and "Can someone make my simple wish come true" (Cope 973). These people are all looking for other people in London to help meet their needs. Referring to the "Personals" section of a newspaper or magazine, they tell a brief description of themselves in the hopes that someone will read this and then want to comply. The structure of the villanelle fits with the ad well. They are able to share personal information and what they are looking for through the short paragraphs. Each of them is seeking a match- it is their simple wish. They hope the ad will fulfill their needs and people in North London will seek them out. Although the needs of each writer may differ, the repetition of phrases connects all of them in a unique way.