Some folks fool themselves into believing, But I know what I know once, at the height Of hopeless touching, my man and I hold Our breaths, certain we can stop time or maybe Eliminate it from our lives, which are shorter Since we learned to make love for each other Rather than doing it to each other. As for praise And worship, I prefer the latter. Only memory Makes us kneel, silent and still. Hear me? Thunder scares. Lightning lets us see. Then, Heads covered, we wait for rain. Dear Lord, Let me watch for his arrival and hang my head And shake it like a man who's lost and lived. Something keeps trying, but I'm not killed yet
On Saturday, I sleep in late; the sandman sets a silver-plate to lie around and contemplate and let my 'soles' somnambulate. Unloading heaps of heavy freight supports me to fly featherweight and putz around, remodulate, I clean erase the scorecard slate. As restful day, the seventh date a holy way to consecrate, my person brews, then percolates, the sabbath pours a cup.... and waits
On changeable Earth human beings are wise, They want to perpetuate the progress in rise. Some vie in earning wealth to live happily, Attractive edifices they build to reside properly. To lead a prosperous life some are on keen, To live peacefully they try hard and do gin. Some are on moonshine and they visualize peace, They visualize peace by wealth, pedantry and dish. Do persons indeed get peace from wealth? Or do they avail eternal happiness or mental health? Peace can't be obtained where there is vexation, Nor it can be acquired in fuss and transgression. Perplexity and agitation don't bring peace, Wealth can bring transient happiness and bliss. Eternal peace we can acquire through noble work, Truthfulness, nonviolence can remove anxiety-murk. We can acquire eternal peace through meditation, Value in life can save persons from damnation. Love, purity, charity, truthfulness, believe in God, These help a person to acquire eternal peace-bud.
I sat with chill December Beside the evening fire. "And what do you remember," I ventured to inquire, "Of seasons long forsaken?" He answered in amaze, "My age you have mistaken; I've lived but thirty days."
As human life begins and ends with woe, So doth the year with darkness and with storm. Mute is each sound, and vanish'd each fair form That wont to cheer us; yet a sacred glow— A moral beauty,—to which Autumn's show, Or Spring's sweet blandishments, or Summer's bloom, Are but vain pageants,—mitigate the gloom, What time December's angry tempests blow. 'Twas when the "Earth had doff'd her gaudy trim, As if in awe," that she received her Lord; And angels jubilant attuned the hymn Which the church echoes still in sweet accord, And ever shall, while Time his course doth fill, 'Glory to God on high! on earth, peace and good will!'
Ruthless winter's rude career Comes to close the parting year; Fleecy flakes of snow descend, Boreal winds the welkin rend. Reflect, oh man! and well remember That dull old age is dark December; For soon the year of life is gone, When hoary hairs like snow come on.
Come, come thou bleak December wind, And blow the dry leaves from the tree! Flash, like a Love-thought, thro' me, Death And take a Life that wearies me.
A gambit is a strategic move or opening action in which something is deliberately risked or sacrificed in order to gain an advantage later. The term is commonly used in chess, but it also applies to conversations, negotiations, business decisions, and everyday life.
📘 Definitions
a clever action in a game or other situation that is intended to achieve an advantage and usually involves taking a risk
(in chess) an opening move in which a player makes a sacrifice, typically of a pawn, for the sake of a compensating advantage.
an act or remark that is calculated to gain an advantage, especially at the outset of a situation.
✍️ Example Sentence
“Starting the meeting with an unexpected question was a clever gambit to capture everyone’s attention.”
” The Detective’s Gambit of pretending to be a Potential suspect helped him solve the case”.
“his resignation was a tactical gambit”
Origin and History
“chess opening in which a pawn or piece is risked for advantage later,” 1650s,gambett, from Italiangambetto, literally “a tripping up” (as a trick in wrestling), fromgamba“leg,” from Late Latingamba“horse’s hock or leg” (seegambol(n.)).
Applied to chess openings in Spanish in 1561 by Ruy Lopez, who traced it to the Italian word, but the form in Spanish generally wasgambito, which led to Frenchgambit, which has influenced the English spelling of the word. The broader sense of “opening move meant to gain advantage” in English is recorded from 1855.
🌱 Why We Love This Word
Gambit captures the balance between risk and strategy. It reminds us that thoughtful risks—when taken intentionally—can open doors to opportunity, creativity, and growth. The word is both intellectually rich and highly versatile, making it useful across many contexts.
💬 Members’ Thoughts:
What does gambit mean to you?
Have you ever taken a calculated risk that paid off?
Where have you seen this word used—in books, games, or real life?
Share your thoughts in the comments below. Your perspective may be featured in a future Vocabulary Tuesdays post.
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Vocabulary Tuesdays at Emerald Book Club is a space to explore language, sharpen communication skills, and connect through words. Whether you’re a reader, writer, or simply curious, you’re welcome to take part.
Holy Sonnet VIII: If Faithful Souls Be Alike Glorified by John Donne
If faithful souls be alike glorified As angels, then my fathers soul doth see, And adds this even to full felicity, That valiantly I hells wide mouth o'erstride: But if our minds to these souls be descried By circumstances, and by signs that be Apparent in us, not immediately, How shall my mind's white truth by them be tried? They see idolatrous lovers weep and mourn, And vile blasphemous conjurers to call On Jesus name, and Pharisaical Dissemblers feign devotion. Then turn, O pensive soul, to God, for he knows best Thy true grief, for he put it in my breast.
