The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 5/Writings: Prose and Poems/Who Knows how Mother Plays!

Perchance a prophet thou — Who knows? Who dares touch The depths where Mother hides Her silent failless bolts!

Perchance the child had glimpse Of shades, behind the scenes, With eager eyes and strained, Quivering forms—ready To jump in front and be Events! resistless, strong. Who knows but Mother, how, And where, and when, they come?

Perchance the shining sage Saw more than he could tell; Who knows, what soul, and when, The Mother makes Her throne?

What law would freedom bind? What merit guide Her will, Whose freak is greatest order, Whose will resistless law?

To child may glories ope Which father never dreamt; May thousandfold in daughter Her powers Mother store.