Can poems really be translated from one language to another?

Question: Can poems really be translated from one language to another!?

Do we miss something in the process!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Literary translators have to make choices, so of course there is always a loss in the process!. I try to stick to the original as much as I can, while trying to make things comprehensible!. But even if something is lost, it is necessary to translate in order to give access to all kinds of works to people who do not speak the original language!.

As an example, I know people who translated Shakespeare's blank verse in French alexandrines!. They try to compensate the loss of the iambic pentameter with a form which, to me, does not correspond at all to Shakespeare's verse!. I prefer translations in which the lines are just arranged in the same order as the original, but the loss is great of course: it is that of the sounds!.
EDIT: and the rhythm!. The music!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Poems cannot be TRANSLATED,
but they can be REWRITTEN
by another poet
who knows perfect both languages or there must be a cooperation between two persons!. The last one who writes "the new poem" into the new language (English) must definitely be a poet!.

I would like to read some good interpretations of great Romanian poets, and have them on Wikipedia!.
It would be great for the human kind, as Shakespeare is!.

There is all into the realisation of the same imagery with the original!. Or Romanian language allow poetic images through words totally different from the exact meaning of the words!. Or in English language this is not allowed, as long as I have been said!.
It's not easy, but we can have the perfection with a helping cooperation, by some native English speaking poets!.

I would like for British Council to still keep and promote especially into the schools those English LITERATURE Classes!. Children are also perfect to have their feelings expressed into arts, they are the best!.

Edit:
If I can be of any small help in such endeavor within Wikipedia, not a particular person,
HERE i AM !!!
I realise this means sacrificed time!.

Edit:
Bob, you probably need a mathematician to see better beneath the surface; they have vision!.
You'll do the rest within your native language if you're a poet!.
:)Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think that translating from English to another language would be difficult!. With all the double meanings, innuendos, and mystery in what we write I am sure each piece needs to have foot notes from authors to give interpretation!.

I was engaged to a Rumanian girl who spoke five languages fluently but because she took things so literally she could not really understand the poetry I wrote her!.!. she enjoyed it and understood what was on the surface, but she was never able to understand the deeper meanings!. I found when we lived together we were of two different worlds!. she was all fashion and I was all jeans!.!.!. and it did not work out!.!.!. I guess I was lucky that marriages and visas were so difficult from former eastern block countries!.!.!. thats my long winded way of saying that we do miss something in the process!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm sure we must lose something!. I know a little Spanish and I know things cannot be translated literally, even in conversation!. How much harder must it be when translating ideas, metaphors!? Let us sing the praises of Linguists and Philologists everywhere!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Reading Pablo Neruda and a few of the polish poets I would say that we do miss something!. That said, I still find the translations fresh and evocative!.

It just shows you how universal some of the observations are that they can survive translation!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I do think we lose something, there is nothing like reading something written in its intended language!. Some languages, especially the romantic ones have a certain extra passion in the way the words sound!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

i have been writting poems since i was in 4th grd and have gotten 3 published!. yes they can but it will be different and not sound the same as it used to!. i tired to do that in spanish and i did not like it!.
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I think it can go both ways!. The literal message in the poem may be missed, but think of the amazing translations/interpretations made in the process!
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Yes
I've done it before!.!.!.You'll have to search the internet!.!.!.But I found a site that translated a poem from English to Spanish!.!.Because my boyfriend is half mexican and he could read it!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Some could possibly be translated, but I doubt seriously if anyone could translate my styles in another language and retain the meter and rhyme!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

yeah there is a lot of meaning missing because there are words that have different meanings to itWww@QuestionHome@Com

yesWww@QuestionHome@Com