Ladder with No Rungs

by Mike Johnson & Leila Lees

Genre: Illustrated Poetry

These three-line, haiku-style poems explore the paradox of human experience, our desire to progress as so-called spiritual beings, and
the absolute interconnectedness and non-hierarchical nature of the universe. Simplicity and complexity play hide and seek in these simple poems, of which every line is a rung in a ladder with no rungs. Direct yet elusive, these finely honed poems take the reader on a journey of discovery without ever leaving the starting point. Warm, humorous, probing, Ladder With No Rungs celebrates language from a poet working at the peak of his powers.

The poems are beautifully complemented by the work of artist Leila Lees, who created these vivid relief prints through a combination of woodcuts, and layering tissue paper onto a plate.