وَما أَنتَ أَم ما أُمّ عُثمانَ بَعدَما

وَما أَنتَ أَم ما أُمّ عُثمانَ بَعدَما

حبالُك مِن رَمل الغناءِ خُدودُ

حبالُك مِن رَمل الغناءِ خُدودُ

And what are you—or what is Umm Uthman—now that

You are not Umm Uthman after she has gone

Your bonds are furrows in the sands of al-Ghana?

Your tent ropes are made of singing sands and cheeks