online dating

my friend told me
about her new suitor,
he's sixty-seven, she's
fifty three. after one
date, he said, i love
you. coughed a little,
excused himself and
blew nose while turning
up the heat. they met
online. in a dating
chatroom. he had
buried his wife a year
ago, and felt ready
to date again. and she
met him. she made
the mistake of making
love to him, and now
he calls and calls and
calls. he has plans,
he sees a future for
both of them. he wants
her love in return.
it's a hard story to
listen to. and at times
you feel the weight
of this sadness
of this world and
the lonliness of
so many, so many.