In God Makes the Rivers to Flow; An Anthology of the World’s Sacred Poetry & Prose, Eknath Easwaran includes a selection from the Chandi entitled “Hymn to the Divine Mother.”  I’ve written the following poem-like reflections inspired by this selection.

In the Arms of the Mother

O thou the savior of all who take refuge in thee,
The lowly and the distressed—
O Mother Divine, we salute thee,
Who takest away the suffering of all.
—The Chandi

Can you imagine your mother rescuing you from a barking dog or to an angry goose?

Can you remember your mother swooping you up into her arms when you were scared or upset?

How warm her arms were.  How soft her bosom.

Then you can imagine the Divine Mother as your savior, as the one who comes to your rescue, who wraps you in her arms.

Holy Mother.  With her sweet kisses on your cheek.

When you call to the Mother, she is there.

You may feel her arms in the warm breath of summer air.

You may feel her flame burning in your heart.

Bring to your Mother Divine every ache, every sorrow.

Reach for her.  She will reach for you.  And carry you.  And set you down.

And you will go all the places you have longed to go, the Mother leading you, hand in hand.