Author(s): William Direen & Scott Flanagan

Poetry | Aotearoa | Art

Stream Light begins with Direen's life in Dunedin, New Zealand, after his shift there from the small rural town of Middlemarch (described in companion volume Seasons (2022)).

He then takes us on a read through the suburbs and CBD of Dunedin ('Skirting'), with visits to regional Otago and Canterbury (Oamaru, Tekapo, Cave and Pukaki). But behind much of the book lies the city both Direen and artist Scott Flanagan once called home - Christchurch, New Zealand. Detailed Notes make up a kind of autobiographical novella going back to the 1970s. Flanagan has also provided notes to his artworks, some completed after his recovery from cancer and its treatment.

As you will discover, both William (Bill) Direen and Scott Flanagan have more than estrangement from their home cities to deal with. Their works deal with grief and the steady accumulation of bereavement the longer one lives, the passage of time, illness and treatment, not forgetting health and, as with Seasons, the wonder of life, local light and nature.

Contents: Poems: Yellow Morning, Skirting, The Hocken, Stream Light (Tent, Van, Venue, Lagoon), Human Help, Organ Pipes, Before the Syrinx, No Return, Burke, A Sister, Cave (Monica, 1911-1984), San Canciano, Venice, The Canadians, Oamaru, Drainage for Spuds, The Gipsy, When Their Sun Shines, Chinese Moon, Smoke, A Visit, A Muslim Veil, Exhibition, The Frogs, Vertebrand, Sunrise. Notes to the Text. Artworks: Cover: The 1st Plants: Yellow Galactic Seed (for Marilynn, for Ben), Waterfall #2, Ulises Lima (interrupted), The Sand Dunes, for Oscar Rabin, Anti-animal, Team Diogenes. Notes to the Artworks

Author Biography: William (also Bill) Direen is a Franco-New Zealand writer and performer. Graduate of Canterbury University (Christchurch, M.A. Hons. (1st)). Director of Alternative theatre (Christchurch) and experimental "psycho-musicals" (Wellington). Later writing (Germany-France, N.Z.:1994-present) ranges from criticism and speculative fiction to poetry publications and performance with collaborating musicians. Guest editor Landfall N.Z. literary magazine; guest editor brief magaine; editor (2006-2017) of trans-cultural literary annual Percutio, "dedicated to aspects of the creative process and to works that bridge cultures". Editor (2021) of a special anthology in 2021 to oppose cost-cutting depletion of New Zealand National Library's non-NZ books.Performs solo and in groups such as The Bilders and the trio Ferocious (vocal and also guitar). Has made small tours of USA, Europe, Serbia and Australia. Lives in Otago, New Zealand. He is the subject of a film Bill Direen, A Memory of Others, directed by Simon Ogston (documentary, 2017).

Artwork by Scott Flanagan