Literature is arouse by the new learning which was the inspiration of great prose, poetry and drama. Many of the Elizabethans were fascinated by ideals—they wanted to know how to be perfect courtier, or gentleman, or governor . Most Elizabethan poems picture nature and human beings in a graceful and idealized manner. Surely the Elizabethan believed in perfection, when Shakespeare could write that if he is mistaken in thinking that the true love is unchanging , then I never writ, nor no man ever loved. The Englishmen of the Renaissance were in love with human beauty, which they considered the outward sign of man’s spirit striving for perfection. For the English were not content to write about perfection; they tried to achieve it in their lives. Yet , Sir Thomas Wyatt brought the sonnet from Italy, and the Earl of Surry for the first time used blank verse, which has been a standard English meter ever since .Furthermore, lyric (or” singing”) poetry was developed, for England was becoming a nation of musician and singers. The lighter side of literature and life in seventeenth century is reflected in the lyrics of the Cavalier poets. In Blake’s poetry , we find the traits and attitudes that mark the change from classicism to romanticism .These have already been pointed out briefly as (1) a study and plainly expressed belief in the brotherhood of man;(2)a deep sympathy with humble lives, human and animal alike; (3) a sense of independent spirit of man andnatural right to freedom. Such attitudes are evident on a grand scale in the American Revolution. As a way of thinking and as an approach to literature, Romanticism is associated with vitality, powerful emotion, limitless and dreamlike ideas . The mood of Romanticism prepared the country for a literary outburst. Wordsworth and Coleridge opened new subjects for poetry. Byron , Shelley, and Keats produced poetry excelling in lyric beauty. Following World War I some of the energy and inventiveness in modern drama seemed to leave England as it entered America .

Literature is arouse by the new learning which was the inspiration of great prose, poetry and drama. Many of the Elizabethans were fascinated by ideals—they wanted to know how to be perfect courtier, or gentleman, or governor . Most Elizabethan poems picture nature and human beings in a graceful and idealized manner. Surely the Elizabethan believed in perfection, when Shakespeare could write that if he is mistaken in thinking that the true love is unchanging , then I never writ, nor no man ever loved. The Englishmen of the Renaissance were in love with human beauty, which they considered the outward sign of man’s spirit striving for perfection. For the English were not content to write about perfection; they tried to achieve it in their lives. Yet , Sir Thomas Wyatt brought the sonnet from Italy, and the Earl of Surry for the first time used blank verse, which has been a standard English meter ever since .Furthermore, lyric (or” singing”) poetry was developed, for England was becoming a nation of musician and singers. The lighter side of literature and life in seventeenth century is reflected in the lyrics of the Cavalier poets. In Blake’s poetry , we find the traits and attitudes that mark the change from classicism to romanticism .These have already been pointed out briefly as (1) a study and plainly expressed belief in the brotherhood of man;(2)a deep sympathy with humble lives, human and animal alike; (3) a sense of independent spirit of man andnatural right to freedom. Such attitudes are evident on a grand scale in the American Revolution. As a way of thinking and as an approach to literature, Romanticism is associated with vitality, powerful emotion, limitless and dreamlike ideas . The mood of Romanticism prepared the country for a literary outburst. Wordsworth and Coleridge opened new subjects for poetry. Byron , Shelley, and Keats produced poetry excelling in lyric beauty. Following World War I some of the energy and inventiveness in modern drama seemed to leave England as it entered America .

This book is not solely about friendship. It is in part about life’s journey and the many paths we cross, touching one soul after another – seasonally, relationally or spiritually. And, I wanted to give just a few, the opportunity to share their thoughts with the universe. In our individual flesh we can oftentimes “feel” alone. We are not alone. We all share a common bond ...emotions. Somewhere - someone out there ... another soul has felt something similar.

Code of Conduct Good qualities in me You will find As you explore my body… And my mind Should you like what you see Then, tell it to others… Sing praises of me In halls and corridors But, if faults are what You see in me Please my love… Tell it first to me

Code of Conduct Good qualities in me You will find As you explore my body… And my mind Should you like what you see Then, tell it to others… Sing praises of me In halls and corridors But, if faults are what You see in me Please my love… Tell it first to me

One Card At A Time - Stories of Inspiration is an uplifting book about how the author began passing out quote cards to his students years ago. They were so popular with his students and their parents that he began passing them out to everyone he would meet. Whether he was in a grocery store, restaurant, bar, dry cleaners, or a dinner party he would give folks these inspirational cards. This book tells how the cards affected these friends and complete strangers. It is full of touching, moving, and motivational stories. Anyone will feel great after reading this book. Ray Matlock Smythe taught for 39 years and earned Teacher of the Year several times during his career. This is his second book.

One Card At A Time - Stories of Inspiration is an uplifting book about how the author began passing out quote cards to his students years ago. They were so popular with his students and their parents that he began passing them out to everyone he would meet. Whether he was in a grocery store, restaurant, bar, dry cleaners, or a dinner party he would give folks these inspirational cards. This book tells how the cards affected these friends and complete strangers. It is full of touching, moving, and motivational stories. Anyone will feel great after reading this book. Ray Matlock Smythe taught for 39 years and earned Teacher of the Year several times during his career. This is his second book.

One Card At A Time - Stories of Inspiration is an uplifting book about how the author began passing out quote cards to his students years ago. They were so popular with his students and their parents that he began passing them out to everyone he would meet. Whether he was in a grocery store, restaurant, bar, dry cleaners, or a dinner party he would give folks these inspirational cards. This book tells how the cards affected these friends and complete strangers. It is full of touching, moving, and motivational stories. Anyone will feel great after reading this book. Ray Matlock Smythe taught for 39 years and earned Teacher of the Year several times during his career. This is his second book.

A collection of poems written on a number of subjects which take in the serious, whimsical, and humorous!�

Childhood memories, observations on life, pets, and occasionally the surreal to challenge the reader�s own imagination!

The content is drawn from the author�s own observations with a view to amuse as well as�confirm that we really do live in a world of the comic and tragic played out on a stage where not one of us can hide!

A collection of poems written on a number of subjects which take in the serious, whimsical, and humorous!�

Childhood memories, observations on life, pets, and occasionally the surreal to challenge the reader�s own imagination!

The content is drawn from the author�s own observations with a view to amuse as well as�confirm that we really do live in a world of the comic and tragic played out on a stage where not one of us can hide!

This book contains a selection of English, Russian and German short poems with translations where appropriate.

Some of the contents were put together in moments which I was able to snatch from a very busy and demanding career at the English Bar and some have been added after retirement.

The translations are original translations by myself [to ensure that they really are original I have been totally resolute in restraining myself from reading any other verse translation].

Since I have made every effort to convey the literal meaning of each word it would not be correct to describe the translations as �free translations�. It must however be understood that my overwhelming priority throughout has been to try to reproduce the rhythm and music of the original language and in order to achieve this it has occasionally been necessary to choose, without distorting the sense, a word or words which are not an exact translation of the original [often in the case of the Russian text this is because the Russian word contains more syllables than any literal English equivalent].

Very rarely the same approach has been taken in order to achieve a rhyme which in its context was considered to be more important than a literal translation. Thus for example in one of Bunin�s poems the Russian word for �knees� has been translated as �feet�.

This book contains a selection of English, Russian and German short poems with translations where appropriate.

Some of the contents were put together in moments which I was able to snatch from a very busy and demanding career at the English Bar and some have been added after retirement.

The translations are original translations by myself [to ensure that they really are original I have been totally resolute in restraining myself from reading any other verse translation].

Since I have made every effort to convey the literal meaning of each word it would not be correct to describe the translations as �free translations�. It must however be understood that my overwhelming priority throughout has been to try to reproduce the rhythm and music of the original language and in order to achieve this it has occasionally been necessary to choose, without distorting the sense, a word or words which are not an exact translation of the original [often in the case of the Russian text this is because the Russian word contains more syllables than any literal English equivalent].

Very rarely the same approach has been taken in order to achieve a rhyme which in its context was considered to be more important than a literal translation. Thus for example in one of Bunin�s poems the Russian word for �knees� has been translated as �feet�.

This book contains a selection of English, Russian and German short poems with translations where appropriate.

Some of the contents were put together in moments which I was able to snatch from a very busy and demanding career at the English Bar and some have been added after retirement.

The translations are original translations by myself [to ensure that they really are original I have been totally resolute in restraining myself from reading any other verse translation].

Since I have made every effort to convey the literal meaning of each word it would not be correct to describe the translations as �free translations�. It must however be understood that my overwhelming priority throughout has been to try to reproduce the rhythm and music of the original language and in order to achieve this it has occasionally been necessary to choose, without distorting the sense, a word or words which are not an exact translation of the original [often in the case of the Russian text this is because the Russian word contains more syllables than any literal English equivalent].

Very rarely the same approach has been taken in order to achieve a rhyme which in its context was considered to be more important than a literal translation. Thus for example in one of Bunin�s poems the Russian word for �knees� has been translated as �feet�.

Once Bukowski was asked: �Do you believe in God?� He replied: �No, I believe only in horses.

I do not know why we always realize things when it is too late. I�ve also bet on horses for a period. But, differently from Bukowski whom I respect so much, I quit horses and bet on God.

Really, I think it is for this faith that I found myself with my back against the wall. �Against the wall� was the first title I wanted to give to this book. There are a lot of people in the world: tramps, prisoners, all types of emarginated people who are alienated just because, in my opinion, they do not manage to keep pace with a cheering occidental cult of efficiency, to keep up with the rules for which the society, the system did not forgive them. But Christ said: �I came to the world for the ill, not for the sane�. Thus, is it really true the last will be the first? Maybe, if, as far as I know, a probable God does not consider things the way people do. Anyway, what I have never understood is: there is a baby born from Gypsies and there is another one born from a rich American family. What is the fault of the first one whose destiny is immediately signed? A mystery! So, �A Gemstone in the Rock�, in its essential message, is an invitation to bet on God as it is the only chance we have in our life.

It is also an invitation to pray�to pray more often during the day. Even at work. But without putting the entertainment aside: it gives colours to our life. That�s why the title is �A Gemstone in the Rock�: life is nothing but a precious stone in the rock: you can observe it in its splendour but you cannot take it with your naked hands. As far as the emarginated people are concerned, let us help them bearing in mind that, differently from what the main part of respectable Catholics think, to help them is not at all a walk of pleasure. I say it with a poem: �How much pain I get for a kiss to a poor wretch!� �This book has got a particular: it is like a human being in the course of his life with it�s high and low moments between faith and total loss of courage�.

P.S. As far as my poem �Now� (�Faith�) is concerned, for a question of a dramaturgic effect I left the sequence of the passion events according to my poetic license�.

Have a good time reading!�

Sincerely,
Donato Placido

---

This book was born as a synthesis of our writings, our thoughts and vision of the world. I made Donato�s acquaintance while he was focused on hypotheses of a staged version of a Pirandello�s play. His poetry published and appreciated in Italy, inspired me. I proposed to him being published abroad. I read Donato�s material thoroughly and put it in a sequence (I would rather say I had to cut it like a movie: his writings evoke movie-like images). This book owes to me its structure, order and some chapters: trilogy �Loneliness of Light� I wrote on the basis of apocryphal Gospels found in the Dead Sea in 2004, in particular, Judas� and Magdalene�s Gospels. However, the dialogue between Judas and Magdalene (staged in 2006 in Moscow at an international festival of directing plays) and Magdalene�s monologue are of pure intuition (or, if we prefer so, of artistic invention). Other book parts of which I am the author are: the dialogue �Puppets of freedom� inspired by �Danton�s Death� by Georg Bchner, extracts from Disillusions (money, power, female love), extracts from Absence and silence (�The end of the world�, �Silence, loneliness and . . .�), the whole chapter of �Encounter� (which is Donato�s novel of the same name I put in a nutshell and in blank verse) and my poem on a true love, �Till the darkness�. In a human life everyone passes from happiness to despair, from the idea of God dissolved in everything to the idea of his absence, one stakes on the material goods accumulation, on power, on love, even on the idea of freedom�but then one notices all these concepts are only illusions, just glimpses of a happiness apparently close, but actually unachievable because everything escapes from us, everybody leaves us sooner or later. It is hard to accept it. A disobedience, a rebellion to life comes up. Till a new hope. Till a rebirth. Till we understand only who really loves us can follow us till the darkness (and even beyond, if we accept mysticism). �A Gemstone in the Rock� is a Donato�s poem I suggested for a title and for the final conclusion to our common work.

For you who are reading us in English I am still more present in the book as every single word of Donato Placido (not only mine) gets to you in my translation that I would define like �transfusion of poetical blood�. I learned to love Donato�s poetry and, as a translator, recommend you �Love denied��I am proud of it, as for its meaning determined by my co-author, as for the shape of this poem translated. It is the core of what I call life: the isolation for a love which is impossible, with the persistent thought of a brother to search for . . . I dedicate this book to those who believe in me and especially to those who don�t.

Olga Matsyna

Once Bukowski was asked: �Do you believe in God?� He replied: �No, I believe only in horses.

I do not know why we always realize things when it is too late. I�ve also bet on horses for a period. But, differently from Bukowski whom I respect so much, I quit horses and bet on God.

Really, I think it is for this faith that I found myself with my back against the wall. �Against the wall� was the first title I wanted to give to this book. There are a lot of people in the world: tramps, prisoners, all types of emarginated people who are alienated just because, in my opinion, they do not manage to keep pace with a cheering occidental cult of efficiency, to keep up with the rules for which the society, the system did not forgive them. But Christ said: �I came to the world for the ill, not for the sane�. Thus, is it really true the last will be the first? Maybe, if, as far as I know, a probable God does not consider things the way people do. Anyway, what I have never understood is: there is a baby born from Gypsies and there is another one born from a rich American family. What is the fault of the first one whose destiny is immediately signed? A mystery! So, �A Gemstone in the Rock�, in its essential message, is an invitation to bet on God as it is the only chance we have in our life.

It is also an invitation to pray�to pray more often during the day. Even at work. But without putting the entertainment aside: it gives colours to our life. That�s why the title is �A Gemstone in the Rock�: life is nothing but a precious stone in the rock: you can observe it in its splendour but you cannot take it with your naked hands. As far as the emarginated people are concerned, let us help them bearing in mind that, differently from what the main part of respectable Catholics think, to help them is not at all a walk of pleasure. I say it with a poem: �How much pain I get for a kiss to a poor wretch!� �This book has got a particular: it is like a human being in the course of his life with it�s high and low moments between faith and total loss of courage�.

P.S. As far as my poem �Now� (�Faith�) is concerned, for a question of a dramaturgic effect I left the sequence of the passion events according to my poetic license�.

Have a good time reading!�

Sincerely,
Donato Placido

---

This book was born as a synthesis of our writings, our thoughts and vision of the world. I made Donato�s acquaintance while he was focused on hypotheses of a staged version of a Pirandello�s play. His poetry published and appreciated in Italy, inspired me. I proposed to him being published abroad. I read Donato�s material thoroughly and put it in a sequence (I would rather say I had to cut it like a movie: his writings evoke movie-like images). This book owes to me its structure, order and some chapters: trilogy �Loneliness of Light� I wrote on the basis of apocryphal Gospels found in the Dead Sea in 2004, in particular, Judas� and Magdalene�s Gospels. However, the dialogue between Judas and Magdalene (staged in 2006 in Moscow at an international festival of directing plays) and Magdalene�s monologue are of pure intuition (or, if we prefer so, of artistic invention). Other book parts of which I am the author are: the dialogue �Puppets of freedom� inspired by �Danton�s Death� by Georg Bchner, extracts from Disillusions (money, power, female love), extracts from Absence and silence (�The end of the world�, �Silence, loneliness and . . .�), the whole chapter of �Encounter� (which is Donato�s novel of the same name I put in a nutshell and in blank verse) and my poem on a true love, �Till the darkness�. In a human life everyone passes from happiness to despair, from the idea of God dissolved in everything to the idea of his absence, one stakes on the material goods accumulation, on power, on love, even on the idea of freedom�but then one notices all these concepts are only illusions, just glimpses of a happiness apparently close, but actually unachievable because everything escapes from us, everybody leaves us sooner or later. It is hard to accept it. A disobedience, a rebellion to life comes up. Till a new hope. Till a rebirth. Till we understand only who really loves us can follow us till the darkness (and even beyond, if we accept mysticism). �A Gemstone in the Rock� is a Donato�s poem I suggested for a title and for the final conclusion to our common work.

For you who are reading us in English I am still more present in the book as every single word of Donato Placido (not only mine) gets to you in my translation that I would define like �transfusion of poetical blood�. I learned to love Donato�s poetry and, as a translator, recommend you �Love denied��I am proud of it, as for its meaning determined by my co-author, as for the shape of this poem translated. It is the core of what I call life: the isolation for a love which is impossible, with the persistent thought of a brother to search for . . . I dedicate this book to those who believe in me and especially to those who don�t.

Olga Matsyna