By: W N Herbert,
W.N. Herbert, co-editor of ‘So At One With You’, an anthology of the last fifty year of Somali poetry, reflects on editing the book and his own relationship with the Somali poets he has translated.
By: Erica Jarnes
Asha Lul Mohamud Yusuf and her translator Clare Pollard wowed audiences, while Martin Orwin and Daljit Martin read from Catastrophe by Weedhsame, who was, sadly, kept away from the UK.
By: Clare Pollard,
In this fascinating essay, poet Clare Pollard talks about how vital the process of learning about Somali culture - camels, khat and all - helped her translate Caasha’s poetry. And how she turned to early English alliterative verse for inspiration.
By: W N Herbert,
W N Herbert offers a fascinating insight into how he approached co-translating Somali poetry. In this essay he describes his induction into the marvellous complexities of Somali verse and how he came to terms with the formal dexterities of Gaarriye’s ‘non-lyric’ poetry.
By: Martin Orwin,
Martin Orwin describes his initial approach to translating Gaarriye’s poetry as ‘an intense, deep reading’. He aims to make literal versions that ‘come to rest on the page dancing to as close a tune as possible as the original’. And he discusses the significance of ‘the interaction between syntax, metre and alliteration’ in Somali poetry.
By: Charles Beckett
I never realised the Moon landings had such a profound and far-reaching effect. For Corsino Fortes, driving his battered Peugeot 204 from Kuito to Luanda, the moment he heard the Americans had touched down was a revelation. He stopped the car, got out, put his hands on his head and looked up at the sky.
By: James Byrne
Gaarriye was interviewed by James Byrne for The Wolf, just before his return to Somaliland following his participation in the 2005 World Poets’ Tour.
By: James Byrne
In an interview given to The Wolf, David Harsent discussed co-translating Somali poet, Gaarriye. A full version on the interview was published in The Wolf, no.11.