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.

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.

Gaarriye was interviewed by James Byrne for The Wolf, just before his return to Somaliland following his participation in the 2005 World Poets’ Tour.

In an interview given to The Wolf, David Harsent discussed co-translating Somali poet, Gaarriye. A full version on the interview was published in The Wolf, no.11.