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Humor is an Incredible Tool
Five Minutes from a Meltdown is a cheeky, offbeat, ridiculously entertaining mashup of punchline poetry and snarky cartoon fun. What was the initial idea behind this collection, and how did that transform as you were writing the book?
I originally started writing comedic poems to provide some joy to my friends and family who subscribed to my Substack, and they were very kind in their responses. Some might say they were too kind, as their positive feedback resulted in me writing hundreds of these poems. Some were sillier than others, some more thoughtful, and many (hopefully) a combination. The poetry collection came together slowly, until I had a manuscript of 100 poems that I thought might be a nice compilation. As I wrestled with which to include and in what order, I started with the funniest, but then began to consider those that I felt had some more meaning or sincerity to them (something I’m not always as comfortable with). I tried to strike a balance as the book came together, to get readers not just to laugh, but think just a teeny bit too.
The cartoons in this book are as entertaining as the writing, elevating this collection from amusing to laugh-out-loud enjoyment. What was the art collaboration process like with the illustrator Mark Hill?
I originally sent over some potential illustrations that I myself drew to my publishers at Yorkshire Publishing. They looked at my sketches and responded with a gist of…”Great ideas! We’ll find someone else who can actually draw” (they said this more kindly and diplomatically). That was the right choice. I’m a writer, not an illustrator. When Mark came onboard, it became clear immediately that he was going to be the right fit. His illustrations were the exact style of playfulness and thoughtfulness I hoped for, and every idea he had for the illustrations was complementary and elevated the humor and meaning of the poems. The process couldn’t have been easier, and I’m so grateful to have had him as a collaborator!
How did you decide on the themes that run throughout your book?
All the themes of the book have come up in my life. From the goofiest and most unrealistic of thoughts about our world to the most serious and real mental illness I’ve dealt with, I have personal experience with every concept in the book. For the book, I tried to navigate each topic humorously, but also treat those that needed more care both intentionally and thoughtfully. My publisher helped me pare down the plethora of poems in the first manuscript to those that had a cohesive or comedic idea, or preferably both. With their help, I am happy to say that we found the 60 poems that were the best for this collection.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Five Minutes from a Meltdown?
I hope to inspire a little reflection on how silly our world truly is, and remind everyone that humor is an incredible tool to help us all connect and relieve stress. If I can get a few chuckles or make any reader think about a topic more deeply, or both, I’ll be thrilled. I hope the message comes across to look around, laugh, and smell the roses (and presumably sneeze; I have terrible hay fever).
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Get ready to laugh out loud with this collection of awkward encounters, groan-worthy puns, clever turns of phrase, and hilarious cartoons. Through David Meyer’s perspective, discover the goofiness in the everyday and the idiosyncrasies of life. This collection of quick-witted, quick reads can be devoured in a single sitting or at a poem-a-day quota (to keep the doctor away).
The book is a perfect gift for a friend who likes to laugh, an enemy who hates to laugh, or a family member who needs a laugh (and to pay you back that money they borrowed).
Put it on your coffee table to be lovingly stained with hors d’oeuvres and good memories, on your bedside table to ward off nightmares, or perhaps in your bathroom, as everyone loves reading a book that other people on the toilet have been touching for years.
However you read, this comedic poetry book is sure to please.
5 Minutes From a Meltdown: A Comedic Poetry Collection
What do you get when a poet says they’re not really a poet, then proves they kind of are? You get Five Minutes from a Meltdown — a cheeky, offbeat, ridiculously entertaining mashup of punchline poetry and snarky cartoon fun. David Meyer isn’t trying to change your life. He’s trying to make you laugh out loud on a Tuesday afternoon. And he succeeds.
Right from the “this is not poetry” intro, Meyer sets the tone. No grand metaphors. No deep soul-searching. Just a parade of bite-sized poems, full of dad-joke energy, wry observations, and perfectly timed nonsense. The humor is sharp but not cruel, smart without being full of itself.
Each piece is like a mini comedy sketch. Some land like a classic stand-up punchline (“I’m the Next Great Supervillain” is a Teflon-coated jab at comic logic). Others are warm and weird, like the running gag of clueless parents and chaotic kids — see “Kids Like the Darndest Things” or the painfully real “My Biggest Fear, Ask My Exes”.
There’s a rhythm to the madness. Meyer plays with line breaks like a DJ dropping beats — awkward pauses, mid-sentence shifts, a lot of “wait, what?” moments that make the final line hit harder. The structure keeps you guessing, and that surprise is half the fun.
Now add in Mark Hill’s cartoons. They’re goofy in the best way — expressive, exaggerated, and full of that Sunday-paper charm. Each one is like a punchline’s wingman, jumping in with a wink and a smirk to make sure you get the joke. It’s not just poetry with pictures — it’s a tag team of absurdity.
This isn’t a book for your English lit professor. It’s for anyone who loves a good laugh, a clever pun, or needs a mental break from the world being on fire. Lighthearted, self-aware, and just the right amount of unhinged — Five Minutes from a Meltdown is like comedy comfort food. You’ll flip through it in a flash. You’ll quote it at brunch. You might even leave it on your coffee table, hoping guests pick it up and laugh.
Pages: 96 | ASIN : B0DK5P76RH
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