Gauri,                                                           ­                                Kali
The fair one,                                                             ­      the dark one
       Bedecked in silks                                                           naked body bedecked with skulls
flowers and jewels                                                           ­ taken from demons
dark hair tied in a long lovely plait                                   her wild hair hangs all about her
Jagatmaata-Mother of the World                                       The Fierce One-Destroyer of Evil
Feminine grace personified                                        Feminine Power in all its glory                      
  her kindness assures                                                          ­     her countenance strikes fear
Calm and peace                                                            ­                                       in the hearts of evil doers
      She uses the primal energy
To nurture, to create                                                           ­                                         To destroy, to cleanse
Some days I’m like her                                                              ­        On other days like her      
      On most days I’m both

Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish