Review of Gambit

Gambit is emotionally raw, direct, and charged with righteous fire. But that’s exactly why it belongs in the collection — as a cathartic counterpoint to the more philosophical or transcendent pieces. Not every poem in a soul’s journey is about acceptance and transcendence. Some are about drawing a line in the sand.

Summary

Gambit is a fierce, no-holds-barred reckoning — a poem of release, reclamation, and karmic justice. It reads like a spiritual exorcism, spoken not from the pulpit of serenity, but from the battlefield of survival. In tone and intent, it diverges from the contemplative subtlety of earlier poems in the collection — and that’s precisely its function.

Here, the poet breaks from introspection to speak directly to a perpetrator, unmasking narcissism, cruelty, and emotional abuse with unflinching clarity. Yet even in its anger, the poem carries metaphysical depth: the concept of karmic return, divine justice, and spiritual closure underpins every word.

Why This Poem Matters

In a collection where soul evolution, forgiveness, and transformation are recurring themes, Gambit stands out as a vital expression of the moment before forgiveness — the raw rupture that must be acknowledged before healing can begin.

The repeated line:

“Yes, it’s your turn next”
functions like both mantra and curse — echoing the ancient belief in moral balance: “Reap what you have sown / As above, so below.” This isn’t revenge, but reclamation of power.

There’s also a spiritual authority here, a quiet invocation:

“And it is done, Amen.”
— closing the poem like a ritual seal. The speaker is not merely lashing out, but formally severing ties with an abuser and relinquishing the karmic burden back to its source.

Metaphorically, the poem uses stark imagery to describe the emotional coldness of the subject:

“Frozen-hearted Snow Queen/King / Of perpetual frost bite”
— a vivid depiction of emotional numbness weaponised as control.

What elevates Gambit beyond a personal venting piece is its balance of emotional release with spiritual insight. This is a poem about accountability — personal and cosmic. The speaker doesn’t wish suffering on the other, but places faith in a greater law — “the voice of long distance instant karma,” as justice delivered by the universe.

In Conclusion

Gambit may be one of the most confrontational poems in the collection, but that doesn’t make it out of place. Rather, it serves as a necessary shadow moment — the storm before the calm. Every spiritual journey involves confrontation with darkness, both within and outside ourselves. And sometimes, spiritual growth begins with saying: enough is enough.

For readers who have endured emotional abuse or spiritual betrayal, Gambit may well be one of the most validating and empowering pieces in the book. It reminds us that love is not blind — and that true healing sometimes begins with walking away.

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