Mourning Jewelry

In her evocative poetry collection, Stephanie M. Wytovich delves into the haunting world of Victorian mourning jewelry, which emerged after Queen Victoria's loss of Prince Albert. These tokens, from rings containing ashes to necklaces fashioned from hair, were not just symbols of remembrance but also expressions of grief that evolved over time. Wytovich explores the darker emotions tied to these mementos, revealing how mourning can transform into a permanent state that encompasses both love and loss, with her characters existing in a realm where the living and the dead intertwine. Through her work, she conveys that mourning jewelry represents an inner turmoil, a concealed burden that lingers within rather than simply being an outward fashion statement.