When I read a book of poetry I keep an eye out for three things: overarching narratives and themes, poetic language and relatability. Luckily for me, “wild embers” by Nikita Gill checked all three boxes.
I would characterize this collection of poems as a feminist piece of art that seems to draw inspiration from classic Disney princesses and ancient goddess motifs.
Heartbreak, love and independence are prevalent themes throughout the collection. They resonated with me from the very first page. An empowering and willful voice flowed through the pages becoming louder until its climax in the last few poems.
The narrative had a seamless structure with nothing out of place or outlandish. The placement of each poem and prose in the book was very deliberate.
For example, the series of poems named after Disney princesses appeared consecutively in the collection. Gill deliberately made the choice to keep them together, and I believe it was a wise one.
What I loved most about the collection was Gill’s poetic style. The poem titled “Dark Days” is just one example. It reads “On the darkest days / I look at the stars, / and marvel at / the patchwork of time / staring back at me.” Stanzas like these had me drinking up every word. I never wanted it to end. The line “patchwork of time” reminded me of a quilt being stitched together, but in place of a needle and thread, I imagined constellations in a cold sky.
One word to describe my perception of this collection is “relatable.” I saw myself in every poem and prose piece. Gill’s impact on my reading could be about how the pieces emphasized the woman or how the pain and independence were pushed into my soul. Gill demanded to be heard in every line.
In one piece Gill writes, “Decide tonight / to take a lesson from Venus, / she shines brighter than any planet / … She hasn’t a single moon / to worship her / … She is alone / And oh / how brilliantly she shines.” I believe Gill was writing about the idea of being alone and free, making it a positive thing. Though the subject of the poem is alone, it doesn’t mean she’s lonely. She is independent, and love isn’t the first thing on her mind.
I could not put down “wild embers.” I had to read each and every word, and I could read it again and learn something new. I would grant this collection a classic five-out-of-five-star read and encourage others to give it a try.