“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. ♡

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