The present article discusses the translation of the poems of Mwinyihatibu Mohamed. Many of his poems, following a strong tradition in Swahili, elaborate metaphors in order to advise, remonstrate with or encourage an audience. By writing about a spider, a needle, a puddle or a hoe, Mwinyihatibu makes a point about relations in the human world. That point is never openly stated; rather, the poems function like riddles that a savvy listener should solve. These elegant poems, and the poet himself, challenge the translator into English in several ways. First, the objects Mwinyihatibu uses as metaphorical vehicles often have a different identity among English-language readers than among a Swahili audience. Also, readers in English are generally unaccustomed to the type of metaphor Mwinyihatibu employs. A translator's uncertainty about the poem's 'answer' may intensify dilemmas about word choice, syntax and the liberties allowed in translation. Limited knowledge of English on the poet's part, and reluctance to solve a riddle for an awkward reader who is not participating in poetic exchange, complicate translation.