take me back
to the time when
swiper no swiping
was code between
me and the toddler king
signaling his next step
would be a step too far
so back down mister or
there’s a time out in
your future

now i scroll through
photo shopped smiles
with the same enthusiasm
i use to buy shoes
not wanting to be treated
with the carelessness of
last year’s jordans i acquiesce
time and time again wondering
could this really be
for me?

first step to true love
an online presence
essential for 21st
century dating whatever
happened to bumping
into a stranger only
three times removed
from your actual life
unraveling parallels
felt in a small town
masquerading as big city

girlfriends glower
feeling judged when
asked essential questions
about safety they
respond talking about
games played with
measured steps
never having won
a single feel i’m even
more lost

why did it have
to become so
complicated
what’s a poet to do
in a world where
simple words have
quadrupled in their
meaning pictures lie
a thousand times and
rephrasing is as passe
as a snagged pair of
1987 adidas grand slam l

and me
a converse girl

online dating is complete and utter mystery to me. i know way too many people who have had success to know it’s not a hoax and yet…what do you post what don’t you post? how do you know who to click and which click might be ‘the’ click? i’ve given myself a headache just navigating the profile questions even when the questions are 1. age range 2. height preference. my head screams, ‘it’s a trap!’ so spaces stay blank until i am unceremoniously deleted from the app. but the most important thing i wonder: does this picture make my converse look good?