Sandlot Poet

Steve Wachtel is a New Yorker and he has been writing poetry since 1976. His new book of poetry, Sandlot Poet is derived from the pain and triumph of his experiences. It features gentle observations and his view of the human experience.

Welcome to this edition of Newsgram!

We begin to day with a quote from the Greek Mathematician Archimedes, “Give me a place to stand, and a lever long enough, and I will move the world”

Steve Wachtel (Archimedes) He was a brilliant man. Thinking about it though I realized that the idea of moving the world, truly moving the world, we need to have something that strikes a number of people and that really relates to. I think poems and songs have that. So I think that’s a better way of moving the world.

That is Steve Wachtel, author of the book Sandlot Poet. We all have our own ways of moving the world. For Steve it began back in 1976, the year another famous New Yorker released the now classic album Turnstiles featuring the hit song “New York State of Mind”. Of course I’m talking about William Martin Joel.

Billy Joel chose to use song to move the world and he has been doing that since the early 70’s. Steve has chosen to move the world through poetry and I found some interesting parallels between these two New Yorkers. Billy Joel was born in the Bronx and grew up on Long Island. Steve Wachtel was born in Brooklyn and also grew up on Long Island.

Steve Wachtel (School District) I was very fortunate to be in the Farmingdale school district in Long Island and had very fine teachers there who emphasized writing and expression. That was very helpful to me.

It was there and then when Steve decided he wanted to be a writer but it wasn’t from the seat of a piano bench. It was on a diamond in a New York City park. The moment was captured here in his poem, A Different Glory

Steve Wachtel (A Different Glory) I was a terrible Little leaguer one hit in three years but I stayed eager to stay with my peers some of who went on to Sandlot glory days looked upon as Gods to be praised for this ability to strike a round ball with a round bat truly a feat denied to those like me non-athlete all stars in fact but today I made some hits to cheers at least in my mind in a different sport that fits me better where I’m included to weave words in my peculiar way into rhyme and schemes that have their say pleasing myself and others it seems. So I’ll never be in the hall of fame and not a Frostian Allstar. At least now in the game, truly and finally a Sandlot Poet.

Sandlot Poet is the title of his new book and it says a lot about him.

Steve Wachtel (Sandlot Poet) So a Sandlot poet is someone who has some ability but is not like Robert Frost for example or those who are in the hall of fame as far as Im concerned. It someone who can put words together to please himself and others and um, will maybe not become famous perhaps but will have their say.

I love that. We don’t have to be famous we just need to be heard and speaking of famous poets, Walt Whitman was also born on Long Island until his family moved to Brooklyn. Was it New York that inspired his introspection and subsequently the quote, “Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes.” I don’t know but it was definitely the inspiration for Steve’s poem Morning Becomes Electric.

Steve Wachtel (Morning Becomes Electric) I wake each early morning to the sound of a Cardinal. The song of a Blue Jay. The twittering of their performing giving sweetness to the start of all my many hopes for the day. The rising sun pauses too to listen. All its harmony. That short space. and I stretch feeling old bones become new again. Grey hairs glisten and all things…by time…briefly returned and my life is graced.

I can relate to that one because it’s how most of my days begin. A cup of coffee in the great outdoors. What is your inspiration and how do you move the world? It doesn’t have to be with a classic album, a world famous volume of poetry or the ability to hit a major league home run. Whatever you do on a daily basis, as long it’s done with the right intentions is probably having a positive impact. Steve Wachtel said it best in his poem Archimedes.

Steve Wachtel (Archimedes) Archimedes master mathematician transported by his theory proclaimed, “Give me a lever and a place to stand and I’ll move the world”. Move the world? What a notion. High enough to move yourself let alone this spinning top of billions. Archimedes had a wonderful madness, it was his method that was wrong. Move the world? Forget a lever. You gotta use a poem or a song.

Words to live by. Sandlot poet is a book of sixty-four free verse poems. Gentle observations and the human experience written from a “New York State of Mind”. And that will do it for this edition of Newsgram from Webtalkradio.com.

Steve Wachtel was recently profiled on the Talking Books podcast. Listen to the audio interview with Suzanne Harris. He was also featured on the Talking Books podcast with JT Crowley. Listen in or watch the conversation on Video. 

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