In 1976 Father Raymond Roseliep, a pioneer of English-language haiku, wrote to Jan and Mary Streif, the editors of the Arizona–based journal Bonsai: A Quarterly of Haiku, and presented his vision of the prospects for American haiku. Roseliep counseled English-language poets to move beyond imitation of traditional Japanese culture, practices, and strictures, and rather celebrate the wonders of our own language, landscape, history, and contemporary life. Roseliep’s letter focused the thinking in the haiku community and attracted the favorable attention of leading poets and editors.