-------
| Áèáëèîòåêà iknigi.net
|-------
|  Diana Malivani
|
|  The Great White Rabbit
 -------





   Diana MALIVANI




   The Great White Rabbit









   An Illustrated Poem











   Translated from Russian into English

   by Mark Herman and Ronnie Apter



   Illustrated by the Author

   Book Design:
   BOOKNOOK.BIZ – www.booknook.biz

   Cover Design:
   DIGITALspin – www.bookcoverart.webs.com


   All rights reserved.
   No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, digital, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the copyright owner.
   Copyright © 2013 by Snoutie Agency Limited (UK)
   (Registered in England & Wales, Number: 08496424)


   SNOUTIE AGENCY LIMITED (UK)
   3 -------
| Áèáëèîòåêà iknigi.net
|-------
|  
 -------


Floor, Fairgate House, 78 New Oxford Street
   London, England, WC1A 1HB
   United Kingdom

   E–mail:
   agency@snoutie.com




   An Illustrated Poem about the life of Great White Rabbit and his travels to Paris, Venice, Monte-Carlo, and Vienna!




   For a little girl named Michelle



   The Author would like to express her deep gratitude to her husband for his support and assistance with this book



   Table of Contents


   The Great White Rabbit
   About the Author
   Other books of the Author



   Deep in the distant silent forest,
   Far beyond a snow-capped peak,
   There lived a Great White Rabbit,
   Generous, kindly, fat and sleek.
   



   He got along with every creature,
   Befriended alike both great and small,
   And because of his well-known wisdom,
   He was beloved by one and all.
   



   Throughout the reaches of the forest
   The Rabbit was held in high esteem.
   He lived in a luxurious mansion
   Where taste and comfort reigned supreme.
   



   He had built his big house by himself
   Among the hazel-nut trees,
   Under a large and ancient spruce,
   And lived there at his ease.
   



   There were three floors, all with terraces,
   High ceilings of ornate design,
   Vases filled to the brim with flowers,
   And a cellar for his wine.
   



   A fireplace graced the living room,
   Big for a Rabbit who lived by himself,
   And in the oaken dining room
   Fine china decked each sideboard shelf.
   



   Around the house he planted a garden
   With trellises of many shapes.
   Roses grew there, and peonies,
   Jasmine and clusters of juicy grapes.
   



   Of an evening he played the piano
   And then from his splendid lair
   The strains of the “Moonlight Sonata”
   Resounded in the forest air…
   



   When the cheerful fireplace crackled
   And candles shed their flickering light,
   The Rabbit welcomed his circle of friends
   To his home for a merry night.
   



   Not all his time is spent at home.
   He's journeyed far and journeyed wide
   To see each great metropolis,
   His curiosity as his guide.
   



   The Rabbit visited Monte Carlo
   And joined the casino crowd at play.
   Then he drove on to a ball in Venice
   Where he hopped the night away.
   



   The Cultured Rabbit loved museums;
   The opera was one of his favorite haunts.
   He strolled with his cane by the blue Danube
   Through Vienna on leisurely jaunts.
   



   He loved to read the news in the park,
   And spent many happy days in the sun
   Playing golf with some long-eared friends,
   Hoping to score a hole in one.
   



   Together with a lop-eared friend or two
   He sometimes sat in the shade.
   His friends paid close attention
   To the wise remarks he made.
   



   In winter he loved to ski in the Alps
   Unafraid of any storm.
   No matter how cold it was, the Rabbit
   Trusted his coat to keep him warm.
   



   His palate trained, he knew his wines
   And only drank the very best.
   Among the socialites of Paris,
   He was always fashionably dressed.
   



   Wearing a claret-colored vest,
   On his paw a watch, a fine Breguet,
   The Big-Eared Dandy drew all eyes
   When he attended the ballet.
   



   At times, returning late at night,
   He would pour himself a glass of wine,
   And sit beside a crackling fire…
   “Ah, Rabbit! Life is fine!”
   



   At Christmas there were special buns
   And the fabulous Viennese Ball.
   He hopped to the market to purchase a tree
   And set it up in his hall.
   



   The Rabbit lives a wonderful life
   Of happy ease in his large abode.
   And to this Great White Rabbit
   The author dedicates this Ode.
   



   About the Author
   
   An author and illustrator of children’s books, Diana Malivani lives in Paris, France, where she raises her young daughter Michelle, for whom this poem was originally written. Diana is a Doctor of Medicine (M.D., Ph.D.), specializing in sports medicine and nutrition, with extensive experience in the fitness industry. Diana is passionate about oil painting and preparing tasty and healthy meals according to her own recipes.



   Other books by the Author


   English Edition

   Snoutie and his Friends
   The Great White Rabbit
   Bazilio and the Little Mice
   The Happy Little Pigs
   The Little Honey Bears
   The Gnome Magicians
   The Little Lost Elephant
   The Little Mouse Musicians


   French Edition

   Snoutie et ses Amis
   Lapin Blanc Le Magnifique
   Bazilio et les Souriceaux
   Les Petits Cochons Heureux
   Les Oursons de Miel
   Les Nains Magiciens
   Le Petit Éléphant Perdu
   Les Souriceaux Musiciens


   German Edition

   Snoutie und seine Freunde
   Der Große Weiße Hase
   Bazilio und die Kleine Maus
   Die Fröhlichen Kleinen Schweinchen
   Die Kleinen Honigbären
   Die Gnom-Zauberer
   Der Verlorene Kleine Elefant
   Die Kleinen Mäusemusikanten