devi

when you smile
flowers fall from the sky
when you walk past
the world lights up with joy
you look down
at us mere mortals, telling you tales:
lost hopes, dreams
in the corner office you listen 
your eyes a-twinkle
under venetian blinds.  And then
in dimlit cafes
sunlight fades to incandescence...

when you were born
which god-mother
placed you on your pedestal
we gaze up now
to your goddess-ness
soaring above
so far, so glorious, radiating
beauty and power. 
You who were born of the body
have transcended it
friendship muted to worship. 

night darkens, in our hearts we know
tomorrow 
we shall go to the river, shouting chants
o omniscient goddess of infinite power
ya devi sarvabhuteshu shaktirupena saMasthitA
Here we cast you to the waters
om shanti. 

amit mukerjee
September, 2005, revised 26 September 2007
kanpur