Hard to translate verse? Easy at first (6)
I believe the answer is:
severe
'hard' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'translate verse? easy at first' is the wordplay.
'translate' indicates an anagram (I've seen this in other clues).
'at first' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'easy' is 'e'.
'verse' with letters rearranged gives 'sever'.
'sever'+'e'='SEVERE'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for severe that I've seen before include "Austere or strict" , "Ascetic - demanding - bitter" , "Strict and unbending" , "sober" , "Unsparing and uncompromising" .)