In 2005, the first volume of his memoirs Ghost Dance won the Montana New Zealand Book Award for the best non-fiction book. It was followed by Terra Incognito in 2006.
Wright, who lives with HIV, says he plans to continue writing and making art till “kingdom come”.
Laughing Mirror is illustrated with Douglas’ quirky drawings and the work takes a raw and unflinching look at love, sex, dance, AIDS and life.
The poems will startle readers unfamiliar with his earlier work and will be welcomed by those who appreciate his diverse talents. It’s easy to see that Douglas readily admits he had made mistakes and hurt people in his life and he certainly does not suffer fools gladly.
Of Laughing Mirror Douglas says: “The Board of Directors took half a look – and found that this little book – was no combustible in their publishing pyre – where words need toe shifting and make ‘cents’ – before they’ll commit them to their frozen fire. But just as the poems peaked in fright – like a pilgrimage to Lourdes sprayed with agnosticism – they sent me a distress signal – through their voodoo dot, dot, dots and questions marks.
“They were on the verge of texticide – so I rushed to quarantine my mutating words and carried then home for spirit medicine. Pain examined without prejudice is metamorphosis and many thanks to the gods of rejection.”
Laughing Mirror includes Elegy for Malcolm, the love of his life. It has “even photographs; as if they’re still developing post mortem as the living must.”
And in the Buddha Douglas writes: “the Buddha dissolved the traps of psychology and released us all – if we want it into the horizon of his smile. He left a map – a list of simple precepts – but refrained from stating each step requires a death.”
Douglas covers a multitude of themes – easily understood by anyone who cares enough to read the poems carefully.
He was once told he could not draw. His work is quite rudimentary, but just as interesting as his poetry. Give it a try.
