Craigslist Poetry: Sparing your mama the drama

Usually, the entries in the Missed Connections section of Craigslist are about what you would expect: fleeting glances in a bar or chance encounters at the gym that people didn’t get the chance to parlay into romantic conversation. But every now and then, somebody on the message board will get the urge to broadcast the emotionally charged particulars of his or her love life. It’s not always clear what the expected outcome is, but for people writing Harlequin romance novels or sad country songs, the temptation is strong to copy passages wholesale.

The following are real entries from the Charleston Craigslist Missed Connections board, broken into lines and stanzas and minimally edited for clarity:

Still To This Day – m4w (Am I Really Here)

Still to this day I love you.

I know I’m not supposed to be saying this

as it’s out of place and puts a lot of pressure on you,

but it’s steady been on my mind again.

I know things were wrong

and complicated,

but it’s on my mind every second

of every day.

You’ll probably never read this,

and even if you don’t,

you know how I feel.

I have no one to talk to about it,

so I’ve resorted to Craigslist.

I miss your hugs – w4m (Charleston)

the most and I need one today.

You were what was needed – w4m (my side of the bridge)

at the time it was needed.

RB, you walked away

without ever looking back,

like I was nothing,

like I didn’t matter.

You told me you would.

I didn’t believe you could.

I thought you would miss me,

at least think of me.

Guess not.

It hurts

some.

COOKIE – m4w – 40 (MT.P)

THIS TIME LAST YEAR

WE WERE TOGETHER

AND I WAS MISERABLE

NOT WITH YOU

BUT THE SITUATION.

PLEASE FORGIVE ME!

I AM GETTING MARRIED

BUT NOT A DAY GOES BY

THAT I DON’T THINK ABOUT YOU

I KNOW WHAT WAS CAN

NEVER EVER BE. I MISS

YOU COOKIE THINKING OF

YOU ALWAYS, WILDEMAN

I Missed You Again – m4w – 48 (West Ashley)

I missed you again last night.

I saw you last week,

but you were pre-occupied

and I didn’t want to bother you

when you were busy.

I wish you would find a reason

to text me so I would know

if you’re still interested.

I’d love to know more about you. Again,

text me

and we’ll do

that lunch

that you promised.

friday kiss – w4m – 99 (chas)

just wondering

what is next?

Be the first to know.

Stay cool. Support City Paper.

Craigslist Poetry: Sparing your mama the drama