talisman, n.Definitions

A Talisman (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠like a placebo you wear on a chain.

A Talisman (n.) can ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠betray a bond one denies: a young man estranged from his family secretly kept a casket of childhood books, dried flowers and water from the home well, for estrangement only binds one tighter to the parental image.

Talisman (n.) can ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠be a cheap ring with a glass diamond from a party cracker — the Ring of Solomon, if you turn it in the firelight long enough.