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Some of you may have been following the story of Maxwell Wheat. Max was considered for Poet Laureate of Nassau County. Though, a politician stumbled across some of Max’s Iraq War poems, the legislators on the poetry committee got chicken (all except Wayne Wink!), and they voted no on Max!
So, now Max gets to be involved in a complicated saga concerning the war, freedom of expression, politics, and community. On June 24th, area poets have decided to name Maxwell Wheat the poet laureate, anyway!
Maxwell Wheat Media Schedule – Long Island appearances
ON TELEVISION – Channel 115 – Wed. June 13th at 10 pm
Dr. Terrence Morrone [aka: Green Party member Terry Morrone!] Public Access program producer, is re-running his 2004 interview of Maxwell Wheat, about the Iraq War at 10:00 PM on Wednesday, June 13 (Tonight), on Woodbury Cablevision, Channel 115.
ON RADIO – WBAI – Wed. June 20th at 6:40 am
Interview:
WBAI 99.5 FM, 6:40 A.M., Wed., June 20.
ON RADIO – Thurs. June 21 at 9:15 am 88.3FM
Interview:
“In the Morning with Bonnie Grice”, WLIU, 88.3 FM, 9:15 A. M., Thurs., June 21
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Poet Sparks Controversy in Legislative Halls
By: Alice Melzer
On June 4, 2007, the Nassau County Legislative session
at moments seemed as electrifying as the water leaking
from the roof, and dripping near the room’s hanging
lights. In reviewing the nominating committee’s
recommendation to install Maxwell “Max” Corydon Wheat,
Jr. as its first Nassau County Poet Laureate, the
Legislation achieve a an unprecedented level of
communication. One man’s poetry touched the emotions
of the many present.
The nominating committee spent one year in selecting
Wheat. He was chosen for his 40 plus years as an
educator devoted to reading literacy, his work with
Port Washington’s Tap Root Poetry group, his volumes
about Nassau County’s flora and fauna. He is noted for
his gentle persona and as one who ever encourages
appreciation for the written and spoken word. The
two-year unpaid position would promote and encourage
poetry. During the session and through roll call six
of seven members Peter Schmidt, Diane Yataro, Joseph
Scandell, Dennis Dunne, and Francis Becker and Norma
Gonsalves vetoed the motion with vehement opposition.
Max Wheat’s thin book “Iraq and Other Killing Fields:
Poetry for Peace” was the cause of the committee’s
tempest. Two members of the legislative body were
reminded by the chair to cease interrupting one
another and also the poet. The poems in question were
drawn from the headlines of the New York Times. It has
been said, “War is hell and atrocities occur”.
When interviewed after the event Wheat (a veteran)
noted he and his wife are of the Episcopalian faith.
His early studies at the Mercer School of Theology
brought him to his beliefs about war. He is, “against
war, but not against our troops…Look at the figures,
the large figures. of how many have been killed. I
want to humanize the number of troops, who have died,
which was the point of the book. The troops are doing
the best to serve the country.”
Wayne Wink cast the single vote for Max Wheat. Wink
stated, “Poetry is about art, feeling, literature and
expression…I am beginning to understand why poets are
not celebrated until after their deaths…This is not
popularity contest. We hear he is exhaled.
(What is this) to become a jingle writing
competition?” Wayne Wink’s cast the solo favorable
vote and he represented a neutral voice. Wink acted
with the courage of conviction and many since Monday
noted his aye vote demonstrated backbone.
In related news, over Memorial Day weekend Cedarmere
the Roslyn Harbor home of the poet William Cullen
Bryant offered a civil war-related program. Poems by
Bryant, Melville, Whittier and songs from the civil
war were rendered. Director Harrison Hunt, a Port
Washington resident and author of two books on the
Civil War noted, “The program was designed to recreate
the roots of Memorial Day. Maxwell “Max” Corydon
Wheat, Jr. did a marvelous job of selecting poems,
which reflected the nobility and bravery as well as
the tragedy of war times. It was a moving program for
the many who attended it. The participatory readings
around which Max centered the program was probably the
aspect of the program which they enjoyed the most.”
Long Island continues to inspire writers. Maxwell
Corydon Wheat, Jr. as others acknowledges there is
distinctive voice emerging from our regional poets and
notes it can be considered as the “Long Island School
of Poetry”. The head of the committee who hoped to
confer Wheat as poet laureate, Paula Camacho will also
be on hand. The Nassau County Department of Parks
Recreation and Museums operates Cedarmere, and its
next event will be a reading of poems celebrating Long
Island at Cedarmere, on Sunday, June 24th at 3pm by
Mr. Wheat.
Cedarmere is located on Bryant Avenue in
Roslyn Harbor. For additional information call 516 571-8130.
Dear Pandadoll,
Thank you so much for the update.
We were awaiting details of the June 24th Cedarmere event. Thanks for posting the phone number.
Surely beyond/above/whatever when a poet is going to read to an audience of poets
and poet devotees, some courtesy is owed to the the listeners.How one can walk in to a roomfull of exvets and spout (to call it poetry would be to inssult the other poets in
the room). And to not guage your audiece’nd’s reaction is unforgiveablre.
to also consistently usurp the time of other poets is rude. Three times in as many years Max has offended (and worse BORED) the Roque Bluffs Poetry Festival audience!!!