“Establishing secure connection...” is a website composed of fragments of posts filed under the “missed connections” section of Craigslist. missed connections is a place where the shy, lonely, and atomized go to plead with the universe to grant them just one more chance at connecting with the beautiful stranger they cannot bear to imagine a life without. These desperate, melancholic voices presume that union with the other will make everything okay again. When they post, they’re feeling lucky, to borrow from Google. I’ve mined particularly poetic fragments from missed connections, sourced from the Craigslist branches of random cities. They flood the screen upon page load, as if typed by their authors, each at a randomly generated speed, inevitably overlapping. Yearning is cacophony. If you’re feeling lucky, you can click the button and three fragments will self-select at random to — in the words of the Internet — establish a secure connection in the form of a poem. If you don’t e-mail it to yourself, you lose it forever (think of posterity, don’t make the mistake the authors did). If you don’t like how things turned out, you can always start over. ♡

I should have said something to youI should have said something to you
you seemed very patientyou seemed very patient
I would like to get to know youI would like to get to know you
You were heading the opposite directionYou were heading the opposite direction
Cant help but think there's more to itCant help but think there's more to it
I miss talking with you on the phoneI miss talking with you on the phone
Let’s have a conversationLet’s have a conversation
i would like another chancei would like another chance
Should we have ordered the Rabbit Ragu?Should we have ordered the Rabbit Ragu?
the universe always finds a way to remind methe universe always finds a way to remind me
Can I come visit youCan I come visit you
Where did you go?Where did you go?
yes I am awareyes I am aware
If you loved me I wouldn't have to guessIf you loved me I wouldn't have to guess
Being intentional with our time here on earthBeing intentional with our time here on earth
I have several young zebra finches that are looking for forever homesI have several young zebra finches that are looking for forever home
You are beautifulYou are beautiful
It's Safer to Have a Gun in the HouseIt's Safer to Have a Gun in the House
I saw you at Yours Truly Coffee on Spring Street shooting a portrait with your Yashica 635I saw you at Yours Truly Coffee on Spring Street shooting a por
i held the door open for you this morningi held the door open for you this morning
I walked up and you leftI walked up and you left
If you know who I amIf you know who I am
You noticed me but avoided my gazeYou noticed me but avoided my gaze
There was a sweetness to itThere was a sweetness to it
Are you single?Are you single?
i have thought about you sincei have thought about you since
You left without saying goodbyeYou left without saying goodbye
I hate to see youI hate to see you
you disappearedyou disappeared
I should have gotten your numberI should have gotten your number
I’ll hold out hopeI’ll hold out hope
I would love to make you feelI would love to make you feel
what happened?what happened?
I know it sounds made upI know it sounds made up
I cannot sleepI cannot sleep
We made eye contact while waiting for the light to turn greenWe made eye contact while w
We never got a chance to talkWe never got a chance t
You're rightYou're right
You didn’t careYou didn’t care
I meet you at the Aloha post office selling a wedding dress you ended up not needingI meet you at the
Shot in the darkShot in the d
I owe you a drinkI owe you
Let's hang out at my placeLet's h
snow flakes fall upon tender fleshsnow
Miss your touchM
Will you be serious right now?
Everyone already knows
Just curious
You know who you are
watch me bleed
in her body
I just wanted to make sure you were okay
I feel like I owe you an apology
I was going to give you another drawing of mine tonight
You almost fell
To have someone to talk with about anything
Do you like the way it’s turning out?
Trust me
it's spring, the season of renewal
You used to read missed connections in our bed
did you change your number?
Spring is coming
missing a woman's touch
you were driving a blue Toyota corolla right before noon
I hope you are safe
your right index finger was wrapped in a bandage
We grew close and then both of our lives fell apart
I’m sorry you had to move
I should have said more
I’ll read to you
i know it's you
You had a heart tattoo on your left arm
I’ve always imagined you and me sitting out in the sun
But it’s just the way of the world
Waist deep in cold brine
Cupid may be real
I wanted to go to the movies with you
I hope karma pays you a visit
I joked about modeling for you
We should have stayed in touch
maybe you could come over
You are so cold
I needed a key copied, and you had assorted nuts and bolts in your hand
I can't stop thinking about you
I’m in the valley
Not really looking for a relationship
I broke my foot last night
We spoke very briefly in passing
I helped you load your groceries into your car
change will control everything in your life
you smiled but still left
It's been a while
I hope we can talk
What began as magical morphed into you deciding not to choose me
Gorbachev says it's ok
We smiled, and you said goodbye
You wear high heels and more when no one sees you
I know it's you
a genuine woman posting
I really liked you
I'll never be able to explain
Wish I had ran in the other direction when I had the chance
Remember me?
You talk about your dad
I feel sorry for you
Never forget
I wish I had talked to you
I hope you made it to your destination safely
I was hoping that we could meet up
desires for an evening
telling you how I wish my gf had your lust for adventure
I might even let you drive
Thank you
You were holding an empty flower pot
im just trying to find my path…
Let's make out
We lost contact due to recent events
the sun was setting
I don't think i had time to react
I am Anti-Drama
I guess I just really liked the attention
Blue's my Favorite Color
You really hurt me
we couldn’t stop looking at each other
You stared into my eyes
God
U let me bum two cigarettes
This is so ridiculous
I just cannot look away
The valley is beautiful
you know what you told me as you walked away
You've moved and I want to see you again
You don’t critically think
You are really coming apart at the seams
I can't keep avoiding problems
I know you're real
We exchanged glances
I want you really bad
Just another self inflicted tragedy
I wish I had stopped you
You said kiss me
You do all the right things in the right ways just like everyone expects
That departure felt rushed
Get back to me
Did you change your mind?
you saw me seeing you
I’ll simply leave the rest up to you to think or act upon it
I keep meaning to tell you this
Let's have breakfast
if I like you I’ll never take my hands off you
Let me know if it could be you
maybe the universe will have its way
Love to get on my knees for you
you were destined
Who knew?
I have no way of contacting you
I was impressed with your musical knowledge of 90's rock
Strawberry Fields
Has anyone seen you recently?
You plasma cut a hole into my heart
You still wear a mask
here I am
I miss the old times
Are you at the hotel?
Tell me your stories
I hope you got home safely
if you’re looking for a home
you were flirting with me
Early this morning, with the rain falling,
I get butterflies
Was there more of a connection?
I’m glad I revoked myself
I’m sorry I was a coward
many moons ago
you vanished
We never spoke and I don't even know your name
We locked eyes and I think you smiled
Why did you disappear?
we bumped into each other in the produce section looking at bananas
There's almost no chance
You think people ever find each other again?
Please get in touch with me
my abode is an art studio
I wanted to take you home
A shimmering full moon silhouetting
I'd like to see u again
I liked ur necklace on saturday
i hope you feel the same
How will you defend yourself?
You told me you were sober and that I was pretty
Let's create new memories
We went opposite ways
You were very Beautiful as you were leaving
felt like maybe we had already known each other
Please message me
not in my mind. I didn't think
not sure what it was about you
you were searching for something that wasn't
I wanted to apologize for being too honest
What are the chances?