Thomas L. Vaultonburg’s ‘Vanished Roads’ Finds Healing in Midwest Landscapes and Haiku

A road can disappear gradually, becoming covered by grass, weather, and time. Its absence may leave a traveler uncertain, yet the surrounding landscape still offers signs of where to go next.

In Vanished Roads, Thomas L. Vaultonburg explores that experience through 104 haiku shaped by personal upheaval, pandemic isolation, and a growing engagement with Soto Zen. Published by Wolf Twin Books and featuring eight original illustrations by artist Tré, the collection follows an emotional passage from sorrow and disorientation toward awareness, gratitude, and renewal.

When Familiar Paths Fade

Vanished Roads begins during a period when the poet’s world had become unexpectedly small. Relationships changed, loved ones were lost, and established ideas about life no longer provided the same direction. The experience left familiar emotional roads difficult to recognize.

Haiku gave Thomas a way to remain present during that uncertainty. Its compact structure encouraged patience and careful observation. Instead of attempting to explain every emotion, he could focus on a single image, a passing season, or a brief encounter in nature.

That approach gives the collection a quiet emotional strength. Loss appears throughout the early poems, though it is often reflected through natural surroundings. Rivers continue moving. Weather arrives and passes. Animals follow their instincts, and forests respond to each season. These observations allow difficult feelings to emerge gently.

The poems gradually begin to occupy a wider space. Grief remains part of the journey, while acceptance and curiosity become increasingly visible. Readers witness a person learning how to move forward when the maps from an earlier life are no longer useful.

Thomas does not force that transformation. It develops one moment at a time, much like the practice of haiku itself. By noticing what is directly in front of him, he finds new ways to participate in the world.

The Midwest as Teacher and Companion

The landscapes of the American Midwest play an essential role in Vanished Roads. Prairie grasses, gravel roads, birds, rivers, forests, mountains, and changing skies become active companions throughout the collection. Their presence gives the poetry a strong physical setting and a steady rhythm.

Thomas sometimes calls his perspective “Prairie Zen” or “Midwest Zen.” It reflects the belief that stillness and meaning can be discovered in familiar surroundings. A person does not need to travel far to encounter wonder. The natural world already offers countless opportunities to stop, listen, and look more carefully.

This perspective became especially important around 2020, when Thomas immersed himself in Soto Zen and developed a deeper commitment to haiku. The two practices supported each other. Zen encouraged awareness of the present, while haiku offered a creative form for recording what that awareness revealed.

Tré’s illustrations expand this experience without defining what each poem should mean. The eight original artworks create visual resting points and deepen the collection’s atmosphere. Readers can spend time with an image, return to a poem, and discover a new emotional connection.

The collaboration also reflects the purpose behind Wolf Twin Books, the publishing venture founded by Thomas and Tré. Their goal is to produce thoughtfully designed books in which writing and visual art share the page with equal care. Vanished Roads brings that vision to life through its measured pacing and cohesive presentation.

About the Author

Thomas is an American poet, haiku writer, independent publisher, and founder of Zombie Logic Press. His poetry has appeared in numerous literary journals, and his creative work has continued to evolve throughout decades of writing.

In recent years, his practice has grown quieter and more closely connected to mindfulness and the natural world. Ordinary Midwestern scenes provide much of his inspiration. Birds, weather, prairie grasses, rivers, forests, and rural roads become subjects worthy of sustained attention.

Thomas also believes that independent publishing grows through genuine relationships. He hopes to connect with readers through libraries, bookstores, literary journals, local groups, and community organizations. Every personal recommendation or unexpected discovery helps introduce another reader to contemporary haiku.

Published by Wolf Twin Books, Vanished Roads is recommended for readers ages 13 and older. Its ISBN is 979-8-9879911-3-8.

What the Disappearing Road Reveals

Vanished Roads encourages readers to approach poetry slowly. Each haiku offers a small space for reflection, while the complete collection reveals an unfolding story of resilience and renewed attention.

Through poetry and visual art, Thomas and Tré show how an uncertain path can still hold beauty. Their collaboration leaves readers with a simple invitation: pause, breathe, observe the world closely, and remain open to whatever appears around the next turn.

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 Tré, 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 Tré’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!