We are born into an unequal world of wondrous dangers and opportunities. Where did we come from? To which destination might we one day depart? Why this particular bed at just this time? Male or female, poor or rich, talented or challenged? The list grows as our vision expands. Why this country, or even this planet? Why does life exist? What is the relationship of mortal man to an overwhelming Cosmos? Yet even with all our science, are the answers any nearer? The reply is a guarded yes regarding HOW. We now appreciate the realities of matter, the mechanisms of life, and the evolution of the Cosmos. But the question of WHY still remains tantalizingly resistant to analytic study. Most scientists concede that the Universe displays order, progression and intricate balance as it unfolds. But does it embody an overriding objective? An egg contains the complete blueprint for the individual. This forces seemingly mindless chemicals to combine and intertwine so that a new life can finally emerge, be it a man or a mouse. The Universe pursues its own blueprint, and one day......? But important as religion, science and philosophy may be, they are only aspects of life, not life itself. Life is for living. Humour, joy, comradeship, sadness and the challenge of adversity are the ingredients of all lives, but the proportions vary. A baby's smile, calm after the storm, the taste of a newly plucked apple, a kind act - these are the nectar of existence. And then the footlights again grow dim. This collection of poems therefore reflects the myriad thoughts, experiences and revelations that this particular traveller has encountered on the path. Are they simply poetry, one man's chronicles, anecdotal rambles, disguised preaching or a coherent theology - each individual must decide. Yet if they prove interesting and entertaining, the writer's task has been worthwhile. If they strike a chord, enjoy the resonance. And if the path is briefly illuminated, stride briskly on.
The author was born at the height of the Manchester blitz. During his apprenticeship he won a scholarship to study Engineering, and later gained a PhD. Having joined the University of Manchester from industry, his department always achieved the highest possible research rating, and helped win the Queen's Anniversary Prize, presented at Buckingham Palace. Professor Leonard is author of over two hundred wide-ranging scientific papers, which include a technique now used to safeguard the ozone layer, and an expert system for cardio-angioplasty. In 1987, Professor Leonard was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science for his collaborative research. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineering and, as an industrial consultant, has given keynote lectures around the world. Raymond and Sylvia Leonard live in the Peak District, where their four children now have eight children. Lifelong fascinations have been science, religion and the future. These interests were combined for a series of novels, published in the 1980s, whose titles included, The Nostradamus Inheritance, OMEGA, and Legacy of the Shroud. In Nostradamus, the Seer's equations directed a super-computer to foretell the future. Legacy took the theme of cloning a boy from Christ's blood on the Shroud. Whilst in OMEGA the writer postulates the emergence of hyper-intelligent circuitry, and the danger of thinking machines deleting mankind as evolution's flag bearer. The novels were well received worldwide, were reprinted as mass circulation paperbacks, and even found translation into Japanese and Hindi. The novels have recently been revised and are now available. Professor Leonard has appeared frequently on radio and television to discuss the relationship between science and religion. At Oxford University, for the 1986 Cardinal Newman lecture, he chose the theme Reconciling Prophecy with Freewill. More recently, sombre visions of the future have evoked these poems, revealing Pearls Along The Path.
