Personal upheaval can alter the shape of a familiar world. For Thomas L. Vaultonburg, a period marked by grief, pandemic isolation, and profound change became the starting point for a quieter creative journey.
His latest collection, Vanished Roads, gathers 104 haiku into a thoughtful exploration of loss, impermanence, resilience, and renewal. Accompanied by eight original illustrations from artist Tré, the book encourages readers to pause and notice the beauty that remains close at hand.
A Poetic Journey Through a Changing World
The opening poems in Vanished Roads emerge from a landscape of uncertainty. Loved ones, relationships, identities, and familiar patterns have disappeared or changed. The roads that once offered direction no longer seem reliable, leaving the speaker to move through an unfamiliar emotional space.
Thomas approaches these experiences through the concise form of haiku. Each poem captures a moment, image, or realization without asking it to carry more than it naturally can. This restraint gives the collection its emotional honesty. Grief is present, yet it unfolds through weather, wildlife, rivers, trees, and changing seasons.
As the collection progresses, its atmosphere gradually opens. The early sense of disorientation gives way to curiosity, gratitude, and greater awareness. New paths appear through creative partnership, Zen practice, and the steady discipline of observing the world.
The title reflects this movement. A vanished road may represent something lost, though it can also create space for another direction to emerge. Thomas allows readers to experience that discovery slowly. The poems invite reflection rather than providing fixed interpretations, making the collection feel personal while remaining open to many experiences.
Readers ages 13 and older may connect with its accessible language and universal themes. Anyone who has experienced change, isolation, or the need to begin again can find a meaningful point of entry.
Finding Prairie Zen Close to Home
Around 2020, Thomas immersed himself in haiku and Soto Zen. Both practices encouraged him to pay attention to the present moment and discover significance in ordinary surroundings. Birds, gravel roads, forests, rivers, prairie grasses, and shifting skies became sources of creative inspiration.
He sometimes describes this perspective as “Prairie Zen” or “Midwest Zen.” The idea is rooted in finding stillness and meaning within the landscapes people already call home. The American Midwest provides the physical and emotional setting for much of Vanished Roads, giving the collection a strong sense of place.
This close observation creates an intimate reading experience. A small movement in nature can suggest a much larger emotional shift. A bird’s appearance, changing light, or passing weather may carry feelings that would lose their delicacy through lengthy explanation.
Tré’s artwork adds another reflective layer. The eight original illustrations complement the poems while preserving their openness. Each image offers a visual pause, allowing the reader to absorb the collection at an unhurried pace.
That partnership also led Thomas and Tré to establish Wolf Twin Books. Their publishing venture focuses on thoughtfully designed works that unite literature and visual art. Vanished Roads represents that shared vision through its careful balance of language, imagery, and physical presentation.
About the Author
Thomas is an American poet, haiku writer, and founder of Zombie Logic Press. His work has appeared in numerous literary journals, and his writing has evolved over decades toward a practice centered on mindfulness, observation, and the natural world.
Through Zombie Logic Press and Wolf Twin Books, he has also developed a deep appreciation for independent publishing. He believes books reach readers through sincere relationships with libraries, independent bookstores, literary journals, community groups, and local organizations.
For Thomas, these individual connections carry lasting value. A reader might encounter his poetry on a library shelf, during a bookstore visit, through a friend’s recommendation, or after spending time on a hiking trail. Each meeting creates another opportunity for haiku to inspire closer attention to nature and everyday life.
Published by Wolf Twin Books, Vanished Roads carries ISBN 979-8-9879911-3-8 and is recommended for readers ages 13 and older.
A Quiet Invitation to Continue
Vanished Roads offers space to breathe during seasons of uncertainty. Its poems acknowledge sorrow, welcome transformation, and gently return attention to the present.
Through 104 haiku and Tré’s expressive illustrations, Thomas reminds readers that beauty often appears in overlooked places. Roads may vanish, seasons will change, and the journey continues through every carefully observed moment.
We had the privilege of interviewing the author. Here are excerpts from the interview:
Thank you so much for joining us today! Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.
My name is Thomas L. Vaultonburg. I’m a poet, haiku writer, and founder of Zombie Logic Press. My latest book, Vanished Roads, is a collaboration with artist TrĂ©, whose eight original illustrations accompany the collection. Together we founded Wolf Twin Books to create beautifully designed books that unite poetry and visual art.
Please tell us about your journey.
I’ve been writing for decades, but Vanished Roads grew from a quieter chapter of my life. Around 2020 I immersed myself in haiku and Soto Zen, learning to find meaning in birds, weather, rivers, forests, gravel roads, and the overlooked landscapes of the Midwest. I sometimes describe this perspective as Prairie Zen or Midwest Zen—discovering that extraordinary moments often exist close to home. The book traces a journey from grief toward acceptance and renewal, while TrĂ©’s illustrations deepen that experience.
What strategies helped you become successful?
I’ve focused on authenticity, patience, and community instead of chasing trends. Publishing independently has meant building relationships one reader at a time through literary journals, libraries, independent bookstores, and local organizations. One partnership I’m especially proud of is with Rockford Art Deli, where sales of Vanished Roads help support Wild Roots Nature Center. Every step has been about creating meaningful work and allowing each opportunity to build on the last.
Any message for our readers?
Thank you for supporting independent authors, artists, and small publishers. I hope Vanished Roads encourages readers to slow down, step outside, and rediscover the beauty waiting in ordinary places. If the book inspires someone to notice a bird, follow a trail, or simply pause for a moment of quiet attention, then it has done exactly what I hoped. Beyond writing, my goal is to help reconnect people with nature, local community, and independent books. Through Wolf Twin Books, collaborations with libraries, independent bookstores, and organizations like Rockford Art Deli and Wild Roots Nature Center, I hope to show that literature can strengthen both communities and our relationship with the natural world.
Thank you so much, Thomas L. Vaultonburg, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!