Capturing Campus: A Dandelion Achievement 

A Dandelion Achievement 

I remind you what the dandelions told me:

don’t be happy, they said

be content instead 

why smile when flatline lips looks so good on you

when other hearts shudder and thud

yours is still

but I still hear you begging

better make me, make me better, medicate me

make it last

time will scar me 

and the sun only shines half a day

it’s best to try

try to be happy

to smile through it all

to relish in hunger 

to moan as you loath

to indulge in the terror

the bleeding and belting

I remind you 

to water them

but tell you they are weeds

Capturing Campus: February

Narcissus circa 2024

I loved someone
so deceptively tangible
so close, almost touching
our breath intermingling
between pauses and thought
I try to survive
the pain in my chest
the aching empty cavity
I loved someone
so deeply
so closely
it killed me

Please reach out if you or someone you know is in immediate danger or experiencing suicidal thoughts. You are not alone.

911

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

CAPS After Hours Urgent Support: 734-764-8312

UM Psychiatric Emergency Services: 734.996.4747

UM Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness: 734.936.3333

Department of Public Safety and Security: 734.763.1131

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.TALK (1.800.273.8255)

The Trevor Lifeline: 1.866.488.7386

Crisis Text Line:  741741

Capturing Campus: February

I am yours and we are dancing

we levitate on Neptune
across its frozen oceans
dancing beneath stars
that burst into jewels
clinging to your dress, twirling,
forming moons from nothing
and comets at your fingertips
you glide along the sky
so beautiful I find myself
adrift in your orbit
that pulls me whichever way
you will it
and I will find Saturn
to gift you his rings
but you deserve much more
and I will give you everything
because you give me love
like cosmic fireworks

Capturing Campus: February

In the garden

I searched for a flower
that reminded me of you

aster
begonias
carnations
chrysanthemums
cosmos
dahlias
daisies
hydrangeas
irises
lavender
lilacs
lilies
lotus
marigolds
orchids
peonies
poppies
roses
sunflowers
tulips
zinnias

but none were quite right
because I remember you said
you don’t like flowers

Letters by Lydia: Positive and Negative Space

Happy Wednesday everyone!  This week I wanted to talk about using positive and negative space.  If you don’t already know what that is, or need a quick refresher, here’s an example:

Positive space is the thing itself, and negative space is the lack of the thing, or what’s around it.  On the left, you can see that the “Hi” is written using negative space, because the color exists all around it, but the letters themselves are empty.  On the right, the “Hi” is an example of positive space, because it is the thing itself (by contrast, the white all around it is negative space).

This is something a lot of artists make use of, or at least are aware of, and the lettering community is a part of that too!

I was feeling inspired by spring (despite the icky weather today), so I drew some more in-depth pieces involving flowers that use positive and negative space.

Which one do you like better?  I hope you all have a great week and hopefully we’ll start to see some flowers blooming soon 🙂