Throughout his long career—and unbeknownst to many—John L. Ruth has been expressing some of his deepest thoughts and feelings in traditional verse and free-form poetry, sometimes reflecting his community’s folk culture in song lyrics. In recent years, he has also turned to translating old German and Pennsylvania Dutch hymns and songs into English. Now in his late nineties, Ruth offers this surprising collection, introduced by poet Julia Spicher Kasdorf, and produced by her husband, Philip Ruth. Lyrics for a Limited Audience will delight and surprise readers of all kinds. (175pp. Masthof Press, 2026.)