Culture

Landroverfarm Press

It’s somewhat difficult to review just one of David Merritt’s works, considering they tend to come in a one-poem format (speaking of which, this is the way I personally think most poetry ought to be absorbed). However, it is possible to purchase his e-books or works through the humble Landroverfarm Press website.
I think I just rather miss the sight of David sitting on a bench surrounded by booklets made of banana boxes and Reader’s Digests, stamped and inked by him.
I’ve been apt to view David as an older (definitely not self-proclaimed) bohemian-type poet, in that he is full of cynicism and loathing toward the publishing industry and their agendas, dislikes people his own age, is intelligent, perceptive by nature and enjoys a good yarn. He has now left the South Island, but remains dear to Dunedin.

David sums up one of the key tenets behind the existence of zines and the alternative DIY culture behind the movement when he states: “The publishing industry is one of the most wasteful industries in the world. About 30 or 40 [per cent] of everything that’s published ends up just pulped. I wanted to make my books out of the detritus of established publishing. And I wanted to pick the worst writers; the Jeffrey Archers, the Reader’s Digests, the Mills and Boons from the 1960s, the romance novels, the crap espionage books that get produced in bulk numbers every year.”

The presentation and content of his works indicate a sense of humour and a decent dose of poignancy in many cases. After a few chats, years ago now, at various times with Merritt, I came to see some of his unique experiences and views through the pages which he self-markets.

From I AM INORGANIC III
I AM INORGANIC AND MY WORK WITH INVERTED COMMAS IS SIMPLE
...
I EMPLOY MINIMUM WAGE SLAVES AS MY SHOP ASSISTANTS
I DRIVE A LATE MODEL AUDI CONVERTIBLE AND HAVE AN EXOTIC
HIGH MAINTENANCE YAPPY DOG,
INBRED BEYOND ALL RECOGNITION.
ENOUGH.