The Poetry of Missed Connections

Surely this world will never again know the likes of the love letters between John and Abigail Adams. Prose, playfulness, wit, affection . . . and just getting warmed up in the first 140 characters.

My Dearest Friend, began Abigail (as she always did) in one such letter: “. . . should I draw you the picture of my Heart, it would be what I hope you still would Love; tho it contained nothing new; the early possession you obtained there; and the absolute power you have ever maintained over it; leaves not the smallest space unoccupied. I look back to the early days of our acquaintance; and Friendship, as to the days of Love and Innocence; and with an indescribable pleasure I have seen near a score of years roll over our Heads, with an affection heightened and improved by time— nor have the dreary years of absence in the smallest degree effaced from my mind the Image of the dear untitled man to whom I gave my Heart . . .

Nowadays, lovers’ lit comes mostly in much smaller packages, via the hit-and-run textlet: U r so hot! or Will I c u 2night? Hmmm, what if Abigail and John had been connected by cell phones? MDF, will u depart Philly soon? OMG, just saw TJ’s tweet—independence! : ) Miss u dearly, hope 2 c u in a fortnight or so . . . Gotta go make soap, lol . . .

But rejoice—all is not lost! There is still romantic poetry out there, and it’s all over the Internet—mostly from lonely souls baring their longing and desire in places like Metroland’s I Saw U and Craigslist’s Missed Connections. Drawing our samples from both of those sources, we offer you a selection of Capital Region love poems, unchanged from their original wording other then the fact that we broke them up into lines and stanzas.

Disclaimer: This is not an original idea at all! Not only have celebrities’ words been recast as poetry for years now (notably, Phil Rizzuto’s ramblings in the Yankee broadcast booth), but we stole this particular idea wholesale from the Charleston City Paper, who admitted to stealing it wholesale from The New York Times.

 

WalMart in Greenbush

 

I saw you

at the deli counter in WalMart in Greenbush.

you beautiful blonde. me shopping there

for the first time.

 

you inquired about the ham I was sampling.

I should have offered you some,

and something clever like,

now that we’ve had lunch, how about dinner?

 

lost opportunities

would love another chance

to say something clever

 

we work amongst each other

 

I need you in my life, damn it,

and there seems to be nothing I can say

(to your face)

to get things to change, so we

can be together. : (

 

(I wish I could say this to your face,

but we both know I can’t

for both our families sakes.)

I love you!!

There I said it . . .

 

doesn’t make me feel any better though. : (

 

cargo shorts

 

At a certain bar on western

where all the staff wear green shirts.

You were working and looking hot

with your fauxhawk.

The only thing that made it better

was Timberlands and cargo shorts . . .

stud

 

W.B. Mason Guy

 

You come into my work

to deliver supplies

and are so unbelievably sexy.

Oh the things I would do to you

and let you do to me

if I had the chance.

 

keep me in mind

 

We work at AMC.

I see you once in a while

with your hood up.

You have a green motorcycle.

 

Not sure if you are single.

I am getting divorced.

If u would like to get a drink

please say hi . . .

 

Saturdays with You

 

Oh, but the past two Saturdays with you

have been amazing.

I’m completely smitten with you,

do you know that already?

 

I hang on every word.

I want to start

by giving you a hug

(we could both use one)

 

and then

if you don’t pull away,

I’ll kiss your cheek.

And then your lips.

 

Then we’ll walk down the street holding hands

and we’ll play in the snow.

The snowflakes land on our faces

and we realize that this is just the beginning

of a whole new chapter in our lives.

What have we got to lose?

 

Oh why can’t I be you?

 

You’ve got everyone turning their heads

when you strut your stuff

down the street.

Saw you in the illium coffee shop

and I thought we caught each others glance.

I was sitting by the window

and reading.

Tell me the book

so that I know it’s you.

 

I’ll Miss you—I wish you told me the truth earlier

 

As much as i know i shouldn’t

i will always wait for you

to text me,

to tell me you choose me . . .

 

I know you will never see this,

but i need to get this off my chest,

but i dont have the guts

to tell it to you.

 

Our relationship

was short, but there is no doubt

that i loved you,

and i will miss you!

 

i know you made the right choice,

but how i wish

the situation was different.

Good luck my love!