Kali The Mother no doubt forms a part of Kali poetry, the love and reverence with which Kali is seen and worshipped, but side by side hair stands on to see the dreadful rupas, we mean the faces of hers and the altars connected. A goddess integrated into the pantheon; she is of the pre-Vedic period rooted in the aboriginal primitive stock of unknown tribal folklore.

How to offer to the Dark Divine? The Dark Goddess? How terrible is the image? How tender and divine is she? After all she is but a feminine self, the mystic mother.

Here the poem is in a dramatic version, the conversation has been carried on among the people of different categories. Kali, how do the people see her? How do the categories?

There is a difference of opinion. What can a poet offer barring the music felt in the hearts? The artisan with his toil can offer to the structure, the image as envisaged by him. The scholar can envisage the secret of ancient arts. The priest bears the burden of the past by carrying the creeds.

All Voices:
O Terrible and tender and divine !
O mystic mother of all sacrifice,
We deck the sombre altars of thy shrine
With sacred basil leaves and saffron rice;
All gifts of life and death we bring to thee,
Uma Haimavati!

Maidens:
We bring thee buds and berries from the wood !

Brides:
We bring the rapture of our bridal prayer !

Mothers:
And we the sweet travail of motherhood !

Widows:
And we the bitter vigils of despair !

All Voices:
All gladness and all grief we bring to thee,
Ambika! Parvati!

Artisans:
We bring the lowly tribute of our toil !

Peasants:
We bring our new-born goats and budded wheat !

Victors:
And we the swords and symbols of our spoil !

Vanquished:
And we the shame and sorrow of defeat!

All Voices:
All triumph and all tears we bring to thee,
Girija! Shambhavi!

Scholars:
We bring the secrets of our ancient arts.

Priests:
We bring the treasures of our ageless creeds.

Poets:
And we the subtle music of our hearts.

Patriots:
And we the sleepless worship of our deeds.

All Voices:
All glory and all grace we bring to thee,
Kali! Maheshwari!*

* These are some of the many names Eternal Mother of Hindu worship.