Saturday, August 6, 2016

Sister Nivedita: Kali the Mother

The stars are blotted out,
Clouds are covering clouds,
It is darkness, vibrant, sonant.
In the roaring whirling wind
Are the souls of a million lunatics,--
But loosed from the prison house,--
Wrenching trees by the roots,
Sweeping all from the path.
The sea has joined the fray,
And swirls up mountain-waves,
To reach the pitchy sky.
     Scattering plagues and sorrows,
     Dancing mad with joy,
     Come, Mother, Come!
For Terror is thy name,
Death is in Thy breath.
And every shaking step
Destroys a world for e’er.
Thou "Time" the All-Destroyer
     Then come, O Mother, Come!
Who can misery love,
Dance in destruction's dance,
And hug the form of Death,
     To him the Mother comes.
[This poem is a part of  the  book Kali the Mother, a collection of essays  by Sister Nivedita published in 1900. Influenced by the teachings of her master, Swami Vivekananda, she left her country Ireland, and devoted her life selflessly serving the poor of India and taking part in the Indian freedom stuggle. Let's salute the fiery selfless spirit of the great lady, who will continue to inspire the coming generations time to time!]