Or lose my life attempting it

[Guest guest]

" This time I shall devour Thee utterly, Mother Kali!

For I was born under an evil star,

And one so born becomes, they say, the eater of his mother.

Thou must devour me first, or I myself shall eat Thee up;

One or the other it must be.

 

I shall besmear my hands with black, and with black my face;

With black I shall besmear the whole of my body.

And when Death seizes me, with black I shall besmear his face.

 

O Mother, I shall eat Thee up but not digest Thee;

I shall install Thee in my heart

And make Thee offerings with my mind.

 

You may say that by eating Kali I shall embroil myself

With Kala, Her Husband, but I am not afraid;

Braving His anger, I shall chant my Mother's Name.

 

To show the world that Ramprasad is Kali's rightful son,

Come what may, I shall eat Thee up-Thee and Thy retinue-

Or lose my life attempting it. "

 

With Love,

Kumari