American Haiku

About the Book

American Haiku: Fifty-Stars, Fifty-States plus the District of Columbia is a bountiful collection of over six hundred haiku (thirteen for each state) highlighting the geographical splendor of our spacious American landscape. In this vast collection, John Ross venerates the official flowers, trees, birds, (and state capitals and mottos as well) along with distinguishing wildlife, in conjunction with the natural land and water formations common to each state. Choosing a precise triptych-lined horizontal approach, governed by a customary 5-7-5 syllabic pattern, Ross has created haiku with a time honored sensibility toward Zen brevity and spirituality. Utilizing colorful bold language, he seems to evoke a sense of meditative petition toward his overall construal of America’s natural wonders, one perhaps best exemplified by Theodore Roosevelt when after camping in Yosemite National Park wrote: "It was like lying in a great solemn cathedral, far vaster, and more beautiful, than any built by the hand of man." As you read this new volume of American Haiku, may you come to value more fully America’s true grandeur as exemplified by her valleys, canyons, buttes, rivers, lakes, volcanoes, geysers and other striking innate wonders found in her cities, national parks and designated forest preserves.

About the Author

John Ross, Jr. holds graduate degrees from Boston University (S.T.M., theology), Harvard University (A.L.M, Dramatic Arts); and a third in pastoral theology (M.P.S.) from Loyola University Chicago. John is the author of four poetry collections. His interests include the relationship between science, religion and the fine arts. He teaches at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.