The PTC’s World Poet Series
By: Edward Doegar
The PTC is launching our World Poet Series, a new series of pocket-sized bilingual books, with the English and original-language text displayed side by side.
Articles
Featuring W N Herbert
So At One With You: Editing an Anthology of Somali Poetry
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.
Poetry as a meeting place - the PTC’s autumn tour
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.
Some Thoughts on Co-Translating Gaarriye
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.
Translating the Poetry of Maxamed Xaashi Dhamac ‘Gaarriye’ for the World Poets’ Tour 2008
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.
‘Manchester Central ’
By: Charles Beckett
The Conference Room in Manchester Central Library was packed with eager listeners for this event with three of our poets and their translators. It provided a very grand setting, with panelled walls and high sash windows. By the time we kicked off it was standing room only and there must have been at least sixty people in the audience.
‘Reading Room - Six Poets and Six Translators at the British Library’
By: Julia Bird
Julia Bird, the Poetry Translation Centre’s tour manager, takes stock of our gala reading at the British Library.
‘Somali Night at the Bluecoat’
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.
‘Finding an Audience’
By: W N Herbert,
Could there be an audience in Bristol eager to hear poetry from Somaliland and Sudan on a Sunday afternoon?
W.N. Herbert is delighted to find there was.
Read the blog for his account of the World Poets’ Tour event at the Bristol Poetry Festival.