The present article revisits ideas punctually treated in Carmen Andrei, Vers la maîtrise de la traduction littéraire. Vade-mecum théorique et pratique (Galaţi, Galati University Press, 2014), in the chapter entitled ‘Traduire la poésie’ [Translating Poetry], refining them by a case study involving two very different translation versions of the famous prose poem by Charles Baudelaire, Chacun sa chimère, one by Dan Dănilă, and the other an anonymous one found on the internet. My choice is justified beyond the title: the translation of poetry has forever been a challenge to the conscience and the critical spirit of the experts in this particular type of ‘specialised’ discourse, requiring a specific set of skills. It goes without saying that translating poetry means entering an infinitely complex system, in a third language. Meaning retrieval and ‘faithful’ prosodic imitation? Reputedly untranslatable, even impossible since value and truth are intrinsic to it, the translation of poetry puts forth genuine bets and challenges to reveal, and difficulties and dilemmas to surmount. Avoiding standardising, even stigmatising typologies, and making good use of creativity are among the pre-requisites of a good translation of poetry.
