Lost Charms by Julie Stevens

A large tree in the middle of green woodland. Large white text reads: Lost Charms. Smaller text reads: Discussing disabled characters in fairy tales and folklore.

Such a beauty reaching out of sand
with a shine that shocked my eye,
to drop from a wrist was a dangerous flight.
 
Half buried in sand was its resting place −
the softest of landings, a whisper fall,
the grains all gathered and made a bed.
 
Who wore this bracelet and lost its power,
who held her hand and let it swing,
who swam away and gifted the beach?
 
It rolled anxiously round my wrist;
each jewelled stone had sought my hand,
its spirited bodies singed with guilt.
 
Temptation landed as I searched the sea
whilst haunting voices gathered inside,
the bracelet scratched and cut its mark.
 
To wear any longer would ignite my fear −
these charms spoke and knotted my mind,
to wear any longer, would leave me buried in grit.

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About the author: 
Julie Stevens writes poems that cover many themes, but often engages with the problems of disability. She has two published pamphlets: Quicksand (Dreich 2020) and Balancing Act (Hedgehog Poetry Press, 2021). Her next pamphlet Step into the Dark will be published by The Hedgehog Poetry Press.

​www.jumpingjulespoetry.com