Is Shyama Really Black?

Is my black Mother Syama really black?
People say Kali is black,
but my heart doesn’t agree.
If She’s black,
how can She light up the world?
Sometimes my Mother is white,
sometimes yellow, blue, and red.
I cannot fathom Her.
My whole life has passed
               trying.
She is Matter,
then Spirit,
then complete Void.

It’s easy to see
how Kamalakanta
     thinking these things
went crazy.

 ---by Kamalakanta (1769–1821)