This poem is written from the perspective of an unborn child, who was perhaps miscarried or aborted. However, the child, speaking from beyond death, doesn't see it as a cruelty but rather as being kept from cruelty. She seems to be talking about the gendered violence she would have experienecd had she been born, and sees her own death, or rather, lack of life to begin with, as being saved.
I’ve been saved Mother, Mother I’ve been saved
The henna of your blood has dyed every pore of my almost being
Had I been allowed to form, each feature would have still filled with blood
Had light come to my eyes they would have been lined with the kohl of acid
I would have been bartered in satta-watta or been useful for an honour killing
Every dream would have been unfulfilled
Had I grown even a little, my father would have diminished in stature
Had my scarf slipped just a little, my brother’s proud turban would have tumbled
Before I could hear your lullaby, I went into my own unborn sleep
I came from an unknown land, Mother I am lost in an unknown land
I’ve been saved Mother, Mother I’ve been saved
The henna of your blood has dyed every pore of my almost being
I’ve been saved Mother