Lachlan Thompson
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Buried Orchids + Collage Accompaniment
Buried Orchids
Just as paint begins to chip and peel from age
you have formed cracks and folds.
Hide and seek can be played alone
Count to ten
don’t go looking for chipped paint,
but do put your hands in the wet earth
tear apart the weeds
one by one
keep a dandelion in your pocket
look over your shoulder
then bury the orchid
(you once believed you were invincible)
An empty home will always be empty
even if you spend your time filling it with the dandelions
you tore out of the ground, kept in your pockets
And they will see what you have accumulated
turn down the hall,
unchanged – unknowing
If you play hide and seek alone
remember that if you put just enough pressure on the third step
It will scream, not squeak
avoid this somehow
Remember when you dug up the orchid,
greedily held its petals in your palm
revelling in the wet earth staining your skin
and the vibrant colours
then, laying your body hurriedly down
into the soil to rest
They found you there: motionless
worn thin
And instead of admiring the cracks forming
between blood, bone, and earth
they turned away to admire the dandelions you had yet to pick
(you are not invincible. and it is not your fault that they did not think to check for buried orchids)
Artist Biography
Lachlan Thompson is a self-taught, multimedia creatrix based on Nipmuc & Pocumtuc land (so called Western Massachusetts). Their art is genrequeer—often blending poetry, collage, painting, and photography. Lachlan is focused on exploring art as a somatic practice—a way to be in and with their body as a Queer and Trans Survivor and hopes their art inspires others to find connection with their own bodies as well. More of their work and social media can be found at astralcherryart.com.