Night Water Reflections

About the Book

Night Water Reflections is a collection of poetry that I have written over the course of my life from those halcyon high school days until today. This daily passion play has been scripted in and out of my mind on scraps of paper, notepads and napkins… and on any other carbonless cord cut, thin sliced wood sheaths I could find at my moments of love, anger, joy or sorrow… aggravation, exaltation or creative inspiration. These poetry pieces were often crafted late at night when I should have been paying more attention to the road when driving or in odd places like country barns or city alleys.

About the Author

Born and raised in Chicago and its suburbs, John LaMotte has been writing poetry since his childhood. Inspired by city and country as well as family and friends, his clear poetry style evokes laughter, reflection and some times pain.

John is a professional city planner with extensive experience in land use planning, urban design and community development. He has been a senior member of two international design firms and former Chicago Department of Economic Development. In 1993 he co-founded The Lakota Group, a widely recognized consulting firm based in Chicago that provides services in Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Historic Preservation and Community Relations.

He is also a trained mediator and has been actively involved in the leadership of several professional and civic groups, including the Metropolitan Planning Council, American Planning Association, El Valor Corporation and Chicago Public Art Group. He has been a speaker, panelist and facilitator at numerous planning and development conferences, workshops and seminars throughout his career.

John has a Masters of Urban & Regional Planning from University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelors in Geography-Urban Planning from University of Utah .

John has worked with thousands of people across the country to plan and change the future of their cities and villages. He has facilitated hundreds of town hall meetings, community workshops, focus groups and interviews. He brings vision, compassion, communication skills, a robust sense of humor and “rhinoceros skin” to his daily work and to his poetry…