Kenneth Francis Pearson

Kenneth Francis Pearson is an award-winning haiku poet whose creative spark was first ignited by Jack Kerouac's The Dharma Bums, which inspired formative cross-country travels in his youth. His most recent chapbook, Know I Loved You Today (Scarmora Press, 2023), continues his exploration of insightful, mindful poetry distilling life into concise haiku and free verse. The poetry finds solace through images from the natural world - the cycles of seasons, fading flowers, the rising and setting sun. Brief glimpses resonate with memories and the endurance of love in the wake of tragedy.

Pearson discovered his passion for writing at 21 and achieved early success with his debut poetry collection The Old Leather Room (Cyberwit, 2004). His acclaimed works also include the gritty yet hopeful Water Falls in Autumn: Verse Vs. Adversity (Amarcord Press, 2007).

Pearson's awards include Outstanding Recognition at the 2023 Arizona Matsuri and winning the Greater New York State Poetry Competition in 2017. He has published in various literary journals and founded the indie press Scarmora Press, issuing chapbooks like the well-received Scattered (2021) on death and legacy, and Catching Mist in the Wind (2022), which was praised for capturing the essence of nature through haiku.

When not writing, Pearson volunteers as the Digital Librarian for The Haiku Foundation. He is a member of the Haiku Society of America, the Alliance of Independent Authors, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Arizona State Poetry Society, and others.

A lifelong learner, Pearson earned his BA in English from Mercy College, graduating summa cum laude in 2012. He honed his craft at Fairleigh Dickinson University's MFA Creative Writing Program. He is currently enrolled in the MS of Industrial / Organizational Psychology Program at National University.

He resides in Vail, Arizona with his wife and their zero children.