I look in the mirror, and the tides start turning,

dark, dark evils around surround me,

out from the purling water, I am born anew;

a soft, glimmering, abysmal enchantress,

leaden like the skies, I bring with me light.

I emerge like death, bestriding my lion,

Ten spines grow within you and I;

And in my ten hands, I hold the glory of the suns,

Flight for the feeble foxes, and debacles unseen;

I am cold and burning, like fever hereafter,

vicious, too: as are wildfires.

In my arms, there's sleep for the tender,

I was born of Lotus water-burns,

I arise from my dreams, this is my hour:

chiming bells welcome me with open arms.

I have come home,

I am home, my daughters,

fear not the fury that smothers your necks;

I womb the devil's horns from a chalice,

I devour the oceans till there's nothing left.

I bring you power to trounce your ghouls,

I am Adi Shakti, the warrior and the bearer,

I fight till the earth surrounding me,

collapses and churns

into the gulfs of my kohl-eyes

I fight like hell that burns.

Yaa Devi Sarva Bhutessu Shakti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa

I come to conquer, and break loose from my shackles,

I am the Andromeda.

Snata Basu is an aspirant poet from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her work mostly centres on passionate, personal bindings. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at North South University.