04/09/2026
I had the very great privilege of attending - and photographing - the launch of 'This Imperfect Light' by NZ poet - published by - at last Saturday night.
It was a fabulous evening - with author-poet Dominic Hoey (one of Dead Bird's founders) providing a hard-hitting (and hilarious) opening act and then Ben stepping up to the mic and absolutely slaying it. Every copy of This Imperfect Light brought to the launch sold out and my brother John got turned on to poetry for the first time in his life.
Featuring artwork by Bill Hammond (according to Ben - "a collaboration born from too many glasses of w**e in a bar between earthquakes") and concept design by .taylor.artist (my very talented sister), the book was edited by Ben's daughter .taylorbrown (my very talented niece).
From the publisher's blurb: This selection allows for quiet contemplation of a life lived imperfectly. The Māori Jesus and The Blue Blanket Boy wander freely through islands, sea-scapes, and the birds and bones of an artist’s imaginings.
Meanwhile,
I barter words for pictures with a man
who is a toymaker and a singer of birds
and ancient giants feather walking through
the red bones of these brazen hills.
Yes, he said.
I’ve worked
with a poet before.
It was a bastard.
