The Have Cave has always been a city of connection, since even before its Puritan times. People pair up here constantly—for the night, for a year, and, not infrequently, for their lives. It can happen in a freshman entryway or at Toad’s, and in Claire’s Corner Copia or on the Green. But these can also be, and often are, momentary couplings. The following poems are entries on the “missed connections” section of the New Haven Craigslist page from November, with added line breaks and titled by listing headings.
Guy with dad at Yale Hospital
I saw you in the waiting room with your dad,
I believe he had an oxygen tank. He said,
“I’m a regular here” to a woman talking to
the both of you in a wheelchair. We made
eye contact a few times, you had brown hair that
went around your eyebrows.
oh. wow.
well then
let’s not talk of love
or chains
or things we can’t untie
better yet,
let’s not forget
how much cooler it would have been
had i met you at 28
and not 18.
or if there were only
a 12-year age difference and
not a twenty-plus difference.
Waiter at Miya Sushi
To the cute waiter
at Miya sushi
I hope you see this!
(We made a lot of
eye contact but
I was with my friend and
I didn’t want to be rude.)
Missed you at the meeting
Saw you at the technology meeting yesterday.
Sitting along the wall, you had a blue shirt and
dark pants while I had short hair and was dressed in
a tan shirt and sipped a small coffee, seated with
the group on the large table. I could hardly
keep myself from looking at you the whole time
which was likely obvious to you. We walked
out the door together but I missed the chance to
speak to you even as we walked down the hall
next to each other. I followed you down the stairs
and as you exited the building we separated.
We appear to be partners in related organizations
and I would really like to find out who you are.
I can’t seem to stop thinking about you.
food vendor
10AM most weekdays. I walk by.
Most of the warm days you were outside and
we said hello. Occasionally a brief conversation.
Sometimes I thought that perhaps you were
waiting for me.
But now it is cold and you are
working inside. Makes sense to me. I see you but
I don’t get to say hello. If you would like
we could meet somewhere after work.
A drink or some coffee. We could say hello.
One time you mentioned your weekend job.
Let me know what that is so I know it is you.
Payne Whitney gym
Hey this was a few weeks ago but we
made eye contact through the mirror,
and you started adjusting yourself.
Was a little too preoccupied to notice,
but would definitely be interested in
meeting up. Let me know what I looked like and
what I was doing, and we can go from there?