Poetry Translation Services

Tomedes assigns a literary specialist who drafts a faithful version, then refines tone, imagery, and sound in two or more editorial passes. The translator shares options when trade-offs arise, for example, keeping rhyme or preserving imagery. A final read-aloud check catches rhythm issues and awkward line breaks. For longer projects, the team pilots a stanza to lock choices before proceeding. Where cultural references, puns, or allusions are involved, the translator adds short notes to keep meaning clear without overloading the poem. Quality improves when the author shares audience, publication context, and must-keep elements. Tomedes supports this workflow end to end, coordinating reviews and delivering a clean manuscript that reads naturally in the target language.

Tomedes supports more than 270 languages through native literary translators. Availability includes major European, Asian, and Middle Eastern languages, plus less common pairs on request. For each project, the team matches by genre and voice, then verifies fit with a short sample. Authors who need multiple target languages can request consistent briefings and glossaries so tone and theme stay aligned across editions. If the project requires dialect sensitivity, Tomedes assigns regional specialists and tests sample stanzas with representative readers. This approach balances fidelity to the source with clarity for the new audience, so the translated poems feel authentic in their new language.

Yes. Tomedes quotes after a short scoping review that looks at line count, form and meter, research needs, notes or commentary, and layout requests such as bilingual facing pages. Collections, anthologies, or chapbooks can be priced by milestone with a pilot stanza first. Complex forms or heavy cultural annotation may add effort, while free verse with minimal notes tends to be faster. If you already have publisher specs, trim size, or style sheets, share them so the estimate reflects final delivery needs. The project manager will present options for timeline and editorial passes and confirm what is included before work begins.

In most cases yes. A translation is a new version of a protected work, so the rightsholder must authorize it unless the poem is in the public domain. Authors usually contact the publisher or the poet’s estate to request written permission that covers languages, territories, formats, and terms. If you plan to reproduce the source text in a bilingual edition, secure that right too. When status is unclear, investigate before commissioning translation. Tomedes can proceed once permission is confirmed and, if needed, can provide translator statements or short bios for submissions so the publisher or journal has all required materials.

AI can help explore wording and variants, but human translators still set the standard for publishable poetry. Models do not reliably preserve meter, internal rhyme, assonance, or layered cultural meaning without guided revision. A productive method is to let AI propose phrasings, then have a literary translator craft, compare, and polish alternatives that respect the poem’s core effects. Tomedes offers this approach on request. The assigned translator can present two renderings when trade-offs matter, such as keeping a rhyme scheme versus mirroring imagery, and will explain choices so the final version fits the target audience.

Poetry concentrates meaning into sound and structure, so choices in one area affect the rest. Tomedes translators begin with a literal pass to fix sense and tone, then decide where to recreate musical features like meter, rhyme, or alliteration. In some poems, keeping a strict scheme works; in others, preserving imagery and voice reads better. Wordplay and cultural references are flagged for notes or light adaptation. The team agrees priorities with the author, pilots a stanza with two approaches if helpful, then applies the chosen strategy consistently. This keeps the translated poem coherent while honoring the original’s intent.

Yes, when the translator makes clear, consistent choices about what to preserve. Some poems carry over structure and sound, others prioritize imagery or tone. Readers often value bilingual editions so they can see and hear the source. Tomedes can deliver aligned facing-page layouts and short translator notes that explain key decisions. This transparency helps editors and readers appreciate how meaning, rhythm, and voice were balanced in the new language. The result may not be identical to the source, but it can still move readers, perform well at readings, and meet the publication goals for the new audience.

A single short poem typically takes a few days, while a chapbook or collection can run several weeks, depending on research, form complexity, and revision cycles. Timelines lengthen when strict rhyme or meter must be maintained, or when cultural notes and permissions are involved. Tomedes sets expectations after a sample review and can stage delivery by section. A common plan is a pilot stanza, a first pass for the set, an author review, then a polishing pass and read-aloud check. This keeps quality high and reduces rework so launch dates and submission windows are easier to meet.

Yes. Tomedes can format facing-page editions with aligned line breaks and clear typography for readings and journals. If you already have publisher templates, provide them and any style notes. For public readings or workshops, Tomedes can also supply a parallel PDF with modest annotations so listeners can follow cultural references and wordplay. Where rights apply, confirm permission to reproduce the original text. If your project includes several languages, the team can standardize layout and front matter so the collection feels consistent across markets while each language preserves its own poetic rhythm.