To Amma

In a vision I saw the eye of a lion
flickering in the red flame
it became an Indian woman's eye
the eye of a Goddess
as you meditated on the beach

The next evening the sunset
was orange not pink

They tell me that here
pink is the color of Passion
orange the color of Peace
and red Universal Love

Amma, love your daughters and protect them
from your sons' passions
Educate your sons to respect them
Only then will there be peace

We should not swaddle ourselves in sari
to hide our love from your sons
For we are all mothers, like you
We all have the right to give hugs

We too are sisters of Durga
We have Kalis for our daughters

Like you, Jesus would have said
"I am not a God," adding only
"Everything I do you can do."

Not "be a zero"
but "know that you are a zero
and you can be Everything"