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

ZEHRA NIGAH

The Wind, Too, Can Change Direction
Do you know?
The wind, too, can change direction
The birds might leave their nests at dawn
And forget to find their way back
Sometimes in spring the tree branches out
Before autumn the leaves separate
Like the paths my life takes
Blown this way and that like dust
The strange smile taking shape on your lips
Says So, what’s new?
Of everything in the story, you are new
Do you know?
But how could you know this?
Your encampment of love and faith
Could blow away like dust
The wind, too, can change direction

NOSHI GILLANI

How Hard It Is to Manage Life
How hard it is to manage life
As hard as making you my friend

There might be a whole new story
Please get to the point

I might drown in these shadows
Please light your eyes!

I am compelled by how it feels
To make you sad yet unaware of your sadness

One must give blood from the heart
Watch out! Do not write poetry

How hard it is for the self
To deny what it all means!

–KISHWAR NAHEED