Research on translation has recently been very developed in various types of texts. Although research on more specific types of poems has been conducted, this research is still researching the translation method, and it is still rare for such research to use translation techniques. Therefore, researchers are interested in analyzing the techniques used by translators in translating a poem from the source language to the target language. Therefore to fill this void, this research aims to find out the techniques used in the English translation of Sapardi Djoko Damono’s poems using Molina and Albir (2002) theory.

This research is a qualitative descriptive study in which the object of this research is Sapardi Djoko Damono’s poem in volume “Sihir Hujan” and its translation “Black Magic Rain,” translated by Harry Aveling. 21 of 51 poems were chosen as the object of this research. The instrument used is a research instrument that is supported by observation sheets. In conducting this research, researchers need supporting instruments, namely the observation checklist. 

It was found that literal translation has become one of the most widely used translation techniques by Sapardi Djoko Damono’s poem translated by Harry Aveling. The results showed that there were 12 techniques out of 18 techniques were used in the 119 data poems. They are adaptation, amplification, borrowing, calque, compensation, discursive creation, generalization, linguistic amplification, linguistic compression, literal translation, modulation, and reduction.

The suggestion the researcher wants to convey is that readers can explore and learn more about translation techniques in poems. They can provide valuable information and knowledge about translation techniques for further research. For other researchers, it can also analyze the content of the transition of translation techniques from the source language to the target language.