Be True: Life in Literature

John reads an excerpt from his novella, Jigsaw Men. He also discusses climate change, post-apocalyptic cooperation, and the challenges of writing fiction. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for  The Wee Sparrow...

John reads his poem “always with us” from his collection The Americans. He also discusses hurricanes, community tragedy, Biblical controversy, and the invisibility of the poor and powerless. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor A...

John reads a section of his chapbook-length poem, Terminal D. He also discusses the relationship between loneliness and quantum mechanics, the mathematics of dread, and the miracle of love. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor Ac...

John reads a section of his chapbook-length poem, "Terminal D." He also discusses the human yearning for connection, loneliness and 'monkey-mind,' and the big skies of Vincent Van Gogh. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor Across...

John reads his poem “Lesson” from his collection The Americans. He also discusses the emancipation of dance, creativity, and sex, and the challenges of finding some peace in a time of egotism. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor...

John reads the title poem from his chapbook On Self-Expression After the Revolution. He also discusses the protest implicit in body art, the obstacles to authenticity, and Chinese photography. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor...

John answers listener questions about favorite poems, podcasts, the writing process, photography, and phat beats. That’s right. Phat beats. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for  The Wee Sparrow Poetry Pres s....

John reads part of his long poem “Your Father Was Leonard Cohen” from his chapbook Sometimes I Still Pray. He also discusses parent-child relationships, artistic differences, and loving life. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor...

John reads his poem “I hear boot heels clicking behind me,” from his chapbook The Dark Ways Mysterious. He also discusses the return of the past, local devils, the mythological West, and black hats. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-...

John reads his poem “Erogenous,” originally published in the journal Bending Genres. He also discusses the mystery of instincts and the wonder of animal energy, and tries to keep his dog quiet. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Edito...

John reads a section of his long poem Heel: A Life. He also discusses the private lives of public figures, adult wisdom, and discovering empathy as a result of one’s own mistakes. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor Across the P...

John reads his poem “No one over thirty” from his chapbook, For a minute there it seemed like something was happening. He also discusses the early days of “new media” and the final days of big hope. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-...

John reads his poem “I have never been an outcast” from his chapbook All the Lonely American Roads. He also discusses peer pressure, the problem with meeting expectations, and the work of Tom Paine. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-...

John reads his poem “Whatever you have given” from his chapbook The Dark Ways Mysterious. He also discusses creepy origin myths, the importance of self-knowledge, and the revenge of the power ties. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-E...

John reads his poem “Mesosphere,” published in Facing Goodbye, the new anthology by The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. He also discusses mourning, the uncertainty of sudden loss, and a new Icarus myth. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Ed...

John reads his poem “Blue and Brown” from his collection The Americans. He also discusses good people of good faith, radical principles, and why The Clash still matter. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for  Th...

John reads his 21st Century love poem, “There is a delicate line between us,” from his chapbook My City of Yesterday. He also discusses irrational attraction, unscientific energy, and nods to Whitman. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as C...

John reads his poem “We accept nothing less than literal translation” from his chapbook All the Lonely American Roads. He also discusses gun violence, American myths, and John Steinbeck’s half-truths. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as C...

John reads his poem “we relish his body” from his chapbook The Dark Ways Mysterious. He also discusses the influence of martyrs, the power of iconography, and the dangerous beauty of St. Sebastian. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-E...

John reads his poem “When a seeker finds the light” from his chapbook The Dark Ways Mysterious. He also discusses the forbidden energy of human creativity, hellfire, and the work of William Blake. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Ed...

John reads his poem “Afternoon at St. Joseph’s” from his collection The Americans. He also discusses the virtues of daily practice, weird church gymnasiums, red Sanyo boom boxes, and basketball great Chris Mullin. (One correction. Chris Mullin is 6’7”, not 6’9”.) John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed nationa...

John reads his poem “Reflection can be a dangerous business” from his forthcoming chapbook The Dark Ways Mysterious. He also discusses the threat self-knowledge, the dangers of creative energy, and the politics of pee-pees and wee-wees. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on educati...

John reads his poem “Middle Age.” He also discusses the Popeye stage of life, jazz appreciation, the trouble with priesthoods, and why we bother with poetry in the first place. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond...

John reads “The Potter,” a poem from his collection The Americans. He also discusses hidden (and not so hidden) labor, caretakers forgotten, and wishes everyone a happy Mother’s Day. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor Across th...

John reads the “Marsyas” section of his poem/chapbook We Are Becoming Unbound. He also discusses the importance of civil disobedience, the virtues of non-violent protest, and satyrs who can rock. John Tessitore has been a journalist and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston and directed national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Edi...