When Thomas L. Vaultonburg turned to haiku in January 2020, he was not looking for a new literary project. He was looking for a way forward.

In the months leading up to that decision, Vaultonburg experienced a series of profound personal losses that dramatically reduced the size of his world. Long-standing relationships ended, familiar routines disappeared, and opportunities that once seemed certain no longer felt available. As he worked to rebuild his life, he found himself drawn to the simplicity and attentiveness of haiku.

Unlike longer forms of poetry, haiku asks the writer to focus on a single moment. Rather than telling a story or making an argument, it encourages careful observation of what is directly present. For Vaultonburg, that practice became a daily discipline.

What began as a personal exercise gradually developed into years of sustained study and publication. His work has since appeared in journals including Modern Haiku, Acorn, The Heron's Nest, Presence, and Mayfly.

The journey culminates in Vanished Roads, a collection of 104 contemporary haiku that traces a movement from grief and uncertainty toward acceptance, gratitude, and renewed attention to the world.

“Vanished Roads is not a book about finding your way back,” Vaultonburg said. “It's about learning how to continue when the way back no longer exists.”

Published by Wolf Twin Books, the collection pairs Vaultonburg's poetry with original artwork by Tré. Together, the poems and illustrations invite readers to slow down, notice the overlooked details of everyday life, and discover meaning in ordinary moments.

While the circumstances that led him to haiku were difficult, Vaultonburg now views the practice as a gift. What began as a response to loss became a way of paying closer attention to the life that remained.

Vanished Roads is available now from Wolf Twin Books. https://www.wolftwin.com/product-page/vanished-roads