Samuil Marshak
The first book

When, after learning things from the beginning, 
We start to spell unsophisticated words 
And realize that each one has its meaning 
Like «Water», «Fire», «Old-man», «Deer», «Herb», 
 
We childishly are joyful and surprised 
That letters were invented for the ages, 
And now exciting stories are the prize 
For poring over our First Readers pages. 
 
Sometimes reality is brutal  and absurd: 
Others who have reached the end of life 
Are struggling to compose a real word 
From sorrows and woes they`d survived.

Translated by George G.