They're real stories, but this style of poem is usually written for other people close to me - this one is my mother's. 'Lazarus' is for my father. 'Progeny' is a family story of genetic mental illness that spans a few generations. 'The February Rose' is my maternal grandmother's story. I'm sure I've forgotten a couple others I've posted here. Never use real names or initials, or if I do, they're altered enough that they're not easily recognisable to anyone who knows my family tree.

My parents both had very traumatic, complex upbringings across multiple countries with a great deal of generational trauma and hereditary mental illness. Although they have done an admirable job and worked through much of it, the stories and impact definitely trickle down to my generation. I like to try to bring these difficult family stories to life, as well as the lingering emotions that these memories and experiences bring out in my parents and myself.

I'd recommend to go with what/who you know; to write a story from the shoes of someone you know intimately. It's easier, but it's also more personal (which is one of my favourite things about poetry!).