The President of Planet Earth

This collection explores global culture through poetic experimentation, intertwining themes of identity and belonging in The President of Planet Earth.

In The President of Planet Earth, David Wheatley presents a captivating poetic exploration of global culture, drawing inspiration from the Russian futurist Velimir Khlebnikov. This collection, shortlisted for the 2018 Irish Times Poetry Now Award, intricately weaves together the landscapes of Wheatley’s native Ireland and his current home in Scotland. Through his verses, he delves into pressing themes of globalism, identity, and the nuances of language, portraying a world that is both familiar and otherworldly.

Wheatley employs an experimental approach, channeling the messianic aspirations of modernism into a rich tapestry of subversive comedy. The poems traverse a wide array of settings, from Pictish pre-history to the imagined South American nation of 'Oblivia', and even to contemporary Scotland amid its post-independence referendum. This journey through time and space invites readers to reflect on the complexities of place and belonging.

Through a diverse range of poetic styles—including prose poetry, concrete poetry, and translations from various languages—The President of Planet Earth reshapes the language and the realities it constructs. Wheatley’s work stands as a memoir of his childhood while engaging deeply with the cultural landscapes of Ireland, the North of England, and Scotland. The collection not only identifies with the radical strain in Irish poetry but also celebrates the transformative power of language itself.