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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.
Project ID: 40739853
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Active 3 days ago
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5 freelancers are bidding on average $18 USD/hour for this job

Affordable, Early Delivery. ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★I hold a Masters degree which gives me the requisite background to handle writing from various subjects. I am a highly committed person towards my work. You can rely on QualityXenter for quality and consistency in writing. We never violate copyright rules. I have vast amount of experience in this industry since I am working from 2015 as a professional writer. I provide many modifications till to get your satisfactions. I have access to enough journals to use in your research project. I always produce quality work at VERY LOW RATES so, don't worry if you have a low budget for your work, I will be very happy to make a new client like you. I am producing quality work for my clients including ARTICLE WRITING, REPORT WRITING, ESSAY WRITING, RESEARCH PAPERS, BUSINESS PLAN, TECHNICAL WRITING, MATLAB, THESIS, ACCOUNTING & FINANCE work ETC. Go through my profile link https://www.freelancer.com/u/qualityxenter
$20 USD in 1 day
5.3
5.3

As a bilingual with a deep passion for language, translation, and research - I am excited to be your Somali Poetry Translator. My sharp eye for detail & reverence for nuance in words makes me tailor-made for this task. I understand that this project goes beyond mere translation; my aim would be to sensitively recreate the magical poetic essence of the original Somali texts in English while respecting their cultural fabric. With a strong command over Somali and nuanced creativity in English, I have successfully translated novels, plays, and even poetry from various languages including Somali. I am proud of the fact that my translations have provided readers with an immersive cultural experience. This trait will be crucial here as your poems need to not only retain their core meaning but also capture their poetic spirit. Moreover, having used Word documents extensively and worked with editing processes before allows me to understand the style sheet promptly and present you with the desired translations in an editable format. My work doesn't end at translations; my translator's notes will be concise, informative, and shed light on key choices drawing connections to the rich Somali culture. Trust me, with me on board, your poems will gracefully épouser la langue anglaise while preserving their cultural heritage.
$15 USD in 48 days
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Imagine an English version that honours the original's imagery without sounding stiff or academic. I translate Somali poetry into English with attention to both accuracy and cadence — preserving meaning fully while making the English read as verse. Each poem is returned with a concise translator's note (2–3 lines) explaining choices or cultural context, and the file mirrors your source formatting in editable Word. I work carefully to your style sheet on spelling and presentation. One question: what register are the poems in — classical, oral tradition, or modern free verse?
$20 USD in 40 days
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Experienced professional. I deliver accurate, detail-oriented work on time with clear communication and free revisions. Ready to start immediately at the listed hourly rate.
$15 USD in 7 days
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Hello, I can translate your typed Somali poems into polished, natural English while preserving stanza breaks, imagery, tone, and cultural context. I will also provide the requested concise translator's note for each poem and keep the Word document editable and consistent with your style sheet. Before the project is awarded, please confirm the total source-word count and the number of poems in the Word file. My estimated turnaround is: • Up to 1,500 source words: 1 day • 1,501–3,000 source words: 2 days • Over 3,000 source words: schedule agreed before work begins I will review the complete file for omissions, consistency, grammar, poetic flow, and formatting before delivery. Best regards, Haruka
$18 USD in 20 days
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Accra, Ghana
Member since Jul 11, 2026
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