Larysa RAMANAVA, a poet, was born in 1968 in the Homel region. She was educated in Frantsysk Skaryna Homel State University, majoring in philology. After that she worked for Vetka Museum of Folk Handcraft.

Her book of poetry Give Delight to the Lord published in 1997 is written in a quiet and insightful manner, with verses resembling 'talking frescos'.

Ales RAZANAU, a poet, translator and essayist, was born December 5, 1947, in the Brest region, Belarus, into a family of office workers. In 1966 he entered the Belarusian State University and in 1969 transferred to Brest Pedagogical Institute (graduated in 1970). He worked as a teacher of the Belarusian language and literature and then served in the army. Since 1972 he has lived in Minsk and worked for various newspapers and Mastatskaya Litaratura publishers. Since 1990 he has presided over the Belarusian Roerich's Fund. At the moment he resides in Germany.

His first works were published in 1961. He has also authored several books of poetry. His works show his artistic talent and unique imagery and world view. He has introduced new genres and rhythmic forms. In his writing he used a lot of forms of world literatures - ballads, free verse and other non-traditional techniques. His themes are meditations about the eternal and unique character of nature, often using unique associations and deep intellectual contexts. He also translates from Lithuanian and Bulgarian poetry into Belarusian and writes critical articles and various essays.

He was awarded Kupala State Prize for his book of poetry The Arrow's Edge (1990). He was also awarded UNESKO diploma for his participation in international competition Meeting of Two Worlds.

Ludmila RUBLEUSKAYA, a poet, was born July 5, 1965, in Minsk, in a middle class family. She was educated at the Architectural and Constructing Community College, architecture department. After this she worked as a mechanical engineer for the Horizont Company, a company that produces TV sets. From 1986-1987 she audited the classes of M. Gorky Literature Institute in Moscow (poetry division), then studied at the Belarusian State University.

Her poetical debut was in 1983, in a youth newspaper, and was followed by several books of poetry. Her first books had quite romantic names - Traces on Old Stairs (1990) and The Moon Sowing Castle (1992). In them you can read about the noble Belarusian past, its legends and heroes. Still writing in that romantic style, Rubleuskaya has been using a lot of Biblical motives in her poetry (Farce, 2000) and has written several dramatic poems and fairy tales for children. She is more inclined towards prose now.

Aliaksei RUSETSKI (real name Aliaksei Burdzialiou), a poet and a translator, and was born into a peasant family, in Mahilou region, Belarus, on December 4, 1912. He graduated from Moscow Veterinary Institute (1935), served in the army and worked at bacteriological laboratories in Minsk and Moscow. He took part in World War II. He was sent to fight in Japan and returned home in 1947. He also worked as a literary journalist for the Union of Belarusian Writers and for various major literary journals.

His first verses were published in 1935 and he authored several books of poetry. His main themes were understanding the duty of modern humankind for their planet, love of the native country, ecological and other various problems of today's world, the inner world of a human being and man as part of nature. He also translated many works from Russian, Ukrainian and Polish authors into Belarusian.

He was awarded, amongst other medals, the orders of 'Patriotic War' (II Degree), 'Red Star', Honorary Worker of Culture of Belarus (1983), Honorary Addresses of the Supreme Council of Belarus and the Kuliashou Literary Prize for his collection of verse The Steps of Heart (1981).