Since Susan Musgrave's write-up on Confessions to a Plant I have continued writing books of poetry into the twenty first century. My twelfth book Purple was finished for St. Patrick's Day this year and I had fun selling it-with my body painted purple and wearing clown hair. For a long time I have been streaking Vancouver, and the idea is to see public nudity decriminalized.

For the last seven years I have been squatting in houses on Grouse Mountain, which ended this summer. Didn't want to die in a cheap hotel in the city, so I moved to Powell River where rents are cheaper. Guess to some people I can be seen as a criminal, having trespassed on private property and using means that are illegal to write poetry. Perhaps my work could be called 'Outlaw Poetry.'

Daniel Rajala
Powell River (2003)

[Spring 2003 BCBW]