The Invocation of Kali

[Guest guest]

The kingdom of Kali is within us deep.

The built-in destroyer, the savage goddess,

Wakes in the dark and takes away our sleep.

She moves through the blood to poison gentleness.

 

She keeps us from being what we long to be;

Tenderness withers under her iron laws

We may hold her like a lunatic, but it is she

Held downs, who bloodies with her claws.

 

How then to set her free or come to terms

With the volcano itself, the fierce power

Erupting injuries, shrieking alarms?

Kali among her skulls must have her hour.

 

It is time for the invocation, to atone

For what we fear most and have not dared to face:

Kali, the destroyer, cannot be overthrown;

We must stay, open-eyed, in the terrible place.

 

It is time for the invocation :

 

Kali, be with us.

Violence, destruction, receive our homage,

Help us bring darkness into the light,

To lift out the pain, the anger,

Where is can be seen for what it is -

The balance-wheel for our vulnerable, arching love.

Put the wild hunger where it belongs,

Within the act of creation,

Crude power that forges a balance

Between hate and love.

 

Help us to be the always hopeful

Gardeners of the spirit

Who knows that without darkness

Nothing comes to birth

As without light

Nothing flowers.

 

Bear the roots in mind,

You, the dark one, Kali

Awesome power

 

Mary Sarton

 

 

 

OM ParaShaktiye Namaha