Crosswords Poem by Susan Lacovara

I had two reactions to this poem, and they were very different from each other. On the surface, it tells a story of a failed encounter, an incomplete meeting of two individuals. Let's face the truth - the guy gives up because he perceives the woman is too complex. That's just sad, the very opposite experience from HAPPENSTANCE. However, your extended metaphor of the crosswords puzzle delighted my poet's mind - it was so deftly and thoroughly presented with so many concrete connections between the game and the experience, I was admiring the craft of the poem despite the sad turn of events.