A Love Parody

In realms of swipes and profiles neatly framed,

Love's battlefield, where hearts are maimed.

No balladeers with lute, no serenades,

Just pixelated faces, algorithms that pervade.

Forget the charm, the wit, the whispered vow,

Here, bios boast of hobbies, sanitized somehow.

Gym selfies flex, vacation pics impress,

A curated self, a calculated guess.

The hunt begins, a quest for perfect match,

A checklist long, with filters to detach.

Age must be precise, income reach a bar,

And teeth must gleam, no matter how bizarre.

Conversations spark, a flurry of "hey there,"

Banal questions, a social awkwardness to share.

"What's your favorite food?" "Do you like dogs?" they ask,

A robotic dance, a pre-programmed task.

Emojis dance, a barrage of hearts and smiles,

Hiding insecurities, hidden for a while.

"Netflix and chill?" the message dares to say,

Ignoring depths of soul, a price one has to pay.

Dates arranged at trendy, overpriced cafes,

Forced laughter ringing, a desperate display.

Small talk falters, the silence screams so loud,

A shared disconnect, shrouded in a crowd.

The spark is missing, the fire refuses to ignite,

Just awkward pauses in the flickering candlelight.

"You seem different in your pictures," one might sigh,

Disappointment stings, another match goes dry.

The ghosting ritual, a silent, heartless trend,

Vanishing acts, a friendship at its end.

No explanations offered, no closure to be found,

Just a digital void, emotions left unbound.

Frustration mounts, a cynical, bitter taste,

"Is this all there is?" a question minds erase.

Love, once a mystery, a whispered, stolen kiss,

Now reduced to algorithms, a calculated bliss.

But wait, dear reader, a twist awaits its turn,

A glitch in the system, a lesson yet to learn.

For love, it seems, defies the code's decree,

A chance encounter, a spark sets hearts free.

A bookstore corner, lost in a world of words,

Eyes meet across a shelf, a melody unheard.

Conversations flow, fueled by genuine delight,

Laughter erupts, banishing the digital night.

Bios forgotten, profiles fade away,

Human connection, a bond that holds sway.

Love, in its messy, unpredictable form,

Rejects the algorithm, weathers the digital storm.

So let this be a warning, a cautionary tale,

Don't let the screen dictate, don't let pixels prevail.

Look up from your phone, step into the sun,

For love, true love, can't be programmed, not one.