liezel graham

all i want to do is tell the story
at least
witness it
with my own eyes
give it breath
so that it might leave my body

i thought, once-upon-a-time, that it was my mother’s story

{isn’t that how all fairy tales begin}

but listen, there is no way that a mother’s story doesn’t leave a mark, at the very least an imprint,
on her child, especially
the stories that had nowhere to go

a story that is never given permission to leave the body
is simple passed on
in the hidden places

in the beginning
there was a little girl
and all she ever wanted was to belong

listen, let me tell you a small truth:

there is no way that a mother’s story doesn’t leave a mark, at the very least an imprint, on her child, especially the stories that have nowhere to go

especially the stories
that are not given permission to walk the earth
as truth.

© Liezel Graham 2026

{a dress for ann elizabeth, my mother, work in progress}