Somali Poetry Translation to English

I have a collection of Somali poems that I want rendered into natural, evocative English while preserving their rhythm, imagery, and cultural nuance. The originals are provided in clear, typed text; you will not need to decipher handwriting or archaic script.

The task is straightforward: deliver polished English versions of each poem together with a brief translator’s note for any wordplay, idioms, or cultural references that do not map cleanly across languages. Accuracy is important, but so is poetic flow—I want the finished pieces to read as poems, not literal line-for-line glosses.

You will receive:
• A single Word file containing all source poems.
• A style sheet indicating preferred spelling choices and basic formatting.

I expect back:
• An English translation of each poem in an editable Word document, mirroring the original stanza breaks.
• A short translator’s commentary (2–3 lines per poem) highlighting key choices or cultural context.

Acceptance criteria:
1. Core meaning retained with no omissions.
2. Tone and imagery feel poetic in English, not prosaic.
3. Translator’s notes are concise and informative.
4. Final file passes a quick read-through by a native English editor with minimal tweaks needed.

Fluency in both Somali and English is essential, and previous experience translating poetry will make the work smoother. If this sounds like your craft, I look forward to reading your interpretations.