David Eggleton Knihy

The poetry in David Eggleton’s new collection possesses an intensity and driven energy, using the poet’s recognisable signature oratory voice, strong in beat and measure, rooted in rich traditions of chant, lament and ode. Mashing together the lyrical and the slangy, celebrating local vernaculars while simultaneously plugged in to a global zeitgeist of technobabble and fake news, Eggleton recycles and ‘repurposes’ high visual culture and demotic aural culture. Edgeland offers a tragicomic and surreal skewering of the cons, swindles, posturings and flaws of damaged people on the make, dislocating the reader with high speed jinks and swerves. A satirical eye interrogates ‘data’, media bilge, opinion, social change, extreme experience, and worst-case-scenario extrapolations. A menagerie of vivid characters burst off the page—including the man who mistook the moon for a candy bar, instigators, prestidigitators, procurators, promulgators, Zorro and Governor Grey—alongside a survey of 35 types of beard, an ode to ooze, metadada, Gordon Ramsay’s pan-sizzled bull’s pizzle, a Baxterian moa, and various other waka jumpers hailing from Jafaville to Jack’s Blowhole. This book is a dazzling display of polychromatic virtuosity, teeming with irrepressible wordplay, startling imagery and anarchic wit, from one of New Zealand’s best-loved poets.

The collection features a vibrant mix of political and social commentary alongside intimate reflections on daily life. Poems shift in tone and rhythm, addressing topics from the South Pacific and capitalism to love and travel. Combining elements of performance and prophecy, the author's energetic and witty style creates a compelling blend of striking imagery and inventive language, making for a dynamic reading experience.

David Eggleton, Poet Laureate of Aotearoa 2019–21, has published nine poetry collections, and now, finally, comes a ‘Best Of ’. The Wilder Selected Poems is a hardback compendium of the poet’s own selection from 35 years of published work, together with a handful of new poems. Cover art by Nigel Brown.

This collection invites readers to engage deeply with the diverse landscapes and cultures of New Zealand, blending historical reflections with sharp critiques of modern society. Eggleton's work intertwines high and low cultural references, creating a rich tapestry that addresses themes of politics, solipsism, and environmental awareness. His vivid imagery captures the essence of nature and urban life, while his multifaceted voice oscillates between humor, philosophy, and cautionary tales, making each poem a compelling exploration of contemporary existence.

Respirator is a sumptuous celebration of David Eggleton' s tenure as the Aotearoa NZ Poet Laureate (2019- 22). In this collection, Eggleton explores how the social changes and upheavals of the past four extraordinary years manifested in Aotearoa NZ, from the impact of living through a pandemic to ecological concerns, technological changes, and shifting viewpoints about identity and global consumerism.