Shows
Be TrueBe True, Episode 116: The Truth Sets Us FreeIn this short episode, John discusses the always-embattled freedom of the press, as enshrined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and the colonial-era trial of John Peter Zenger.John Tessitore has been a journalist, editor, and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and...
2026-01-3102 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 96: Letting the Cat Out of the BagJohn reads William Shakespeare's Sonnet 129, "Th'expense of spirit in a waste of shame." He also discusses orgasmic poetry, Texas stupidity, Euripides, Dionysus, and a great Norm MacDonald joke.John Tessitore has been a journalist, editor, and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of...
2025-06-0808 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 95: Let’s Give ‘Em Somethin’ To Talk AboutJohn reads Amy Lowell’s poem “The Weather-Cock Points South.” He also discusses the recent wave of book-banning and repression, the universality of sex, and his pleasure in taunting the censors.John Tessitore has been a journalist, editor, and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discus...
2025-06-0106 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 94: Full DisclosureIn this special episode, John reveals a bit of his origin story and describes why the government fears universities, why universities are defined by dissent, and why Harvard really is Hogwarts.John Tessitore has been a journalist, editor, and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and...
2025-05-2510 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 93: It's Alright, MaJohn reads a section of his poem/chapbook "For a minute there, it seemed like something was happening." He also discusses graduation season, balancing fear and risk, and breaking free from the past.John Tessitore has been a journalist, editor, and biographer. He has taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he...
2025-05-1806 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 92: Literature at the CrossroadsIn this special episode, John examines the role of poetry and fiction in our era, discusses new challenges for independent creators, and asks how his own writing and podcast can serve the culture.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of...
2025-05-1109 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 91: Responsible Humans in a Meatpacking CultureJohn reads a passage of The Jungle, a novel by Upton Sinclair. He also discusses the importance of muckraking fiction, the hazards of government deregulation, and the actual survival of our society.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his...
2025-05-0410 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 90: Time is WisdomJohn reads his poem "Hopespring" on the third anniversary of the Wee Sparrow Poetry Press, and discusses the need for hope, international collaboration, and positive action in a profoundly stupid era.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published...
2025-04-2705 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 89: Don’t Forget the HomefrontJohn reads his poem “Agapetos” from his chapbook Apocrypha. He also discusses the vulnerable in times of struggle, the relationship between poetry and religion, and the humility of John the Apostle. 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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poem...
2025-04-2007 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 88: Flying Unfriendly SkiesJohn reads a passage from his chapbook-length poem Terminal D. He also discusses the global warming of air travel, Extinction Rebellion, and civil disobedience in Henry David Thoreau’s backyard.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems....
2025-04-1308 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 86: Taking Up “Wickedness” AgainJohn reads a passage from Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He also discusses the tricks of conscience, the fight for human dignity and decency, and a masterful speech by Conan O’Brien.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of h...
2025-03-3006 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 85: Renewal From Every AngleJohn reads his poem “Testimony,” recently published in the journal Canary—a poem that says everything he wants to say right now about spring, and nature, and awe, and humility.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.w...
2025-03-2404 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 84: Words as WeaponsJohn reads his poem “The First March” from his collection The Americans. He also discusses the challenges of protest and the devaluation of language in an age of slogans, algorithms, AI, and big data.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of h...
2025-03-1706 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 83: "We Aged a Hundred Years"John reads "In Memoriam, July 19, 1914," a poem by Anna Akhmatova. He also discusses the absurdities of war, witnesses to history, people as commodities, and writers who stay and fight.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.
2025-03-1008 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 82: Auditions for BattleJohn reads from his poem/pamphlet “From Eyes Stricken.” He also discusses writing in a trance, American literature in crisis, the poems of Czeslaw Milosz, and feeling like it’s now or never.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his pu...
2025-03-0307 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 82: Auditions for BattleJohn reads from his poem/pamphlet “From Eyes Stricken.” He also discusses writing in a trance, American literature in crisis, the poems of Czeslaw Milosz, and feeling like it’s now or never.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his pu...
2025-03-0307 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 81: The Poor Are With UsJohn reads his poem “Iscariot” from his chapbook Apocrypha. He also discusses the importance of being honest, the slow creep of corruption, and tosses in a little Velvet Underground for good measure.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publ...
2025-02-2409 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 80: “When I Saw It Was You, I Cried”In this special episode, John discusses his experiences as a writer of nonfiction, our national reckoning with history, the tragedies of the American story, and the extraordinary life of Muhammad Ali.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published...
2025-02-1710 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 79: The Idiocy That Surrounds UsJohn reads his poem “We Purchased a Pile of Dirt.” He also discusses the ecology of the economy, the economy of ecology, the truth about scarcity, raised-bed gardening, and fighting fools with joy.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his...
2025-02-1008 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 78: We Are the Mad OnesJohn reads his poem "Intertestamental" from his chapbook Apocrypha. He discusses our present need for spiritual renewal, the benefits of writing our own scripture, and Walt Whitman's American Bible.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.
2025-02-0310 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 77: An Original Relation to the UniverseJohn reads a passage of “Civil Disobedience” by Henry David Thoreau. He also discusses what it means to be self-reliant, how to get clean in a corrupt society, and why we can only get clean together.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and disc...
2025-01-2709 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 76: The Real Self-HelpJohn reads his poem “What Have We Learned.” He discusses the new age of anxiety, his skepticism about advice poems, and our duty to find our own feet first, and fast, before we can help anyone else.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and...
2025-01-2009 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 75: Why Don’t You All Fade AwayJohn reads his poem “Our Fathers” from his chapbook On Self-Expression After the Revolution. He also discusses generational conflict, Baby Boomer lunacy, and the therapeutic virtues of a “gut poem.”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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www...
2025-01-1310 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 74: This Poem is for the BirdsJohn reads his poem "Why I Say 'I Love You.'" He also discusses literary inspirations, offers some "pure, sincere, unironic" meditations on love and poetry, and identifies the ultimate poetic coda.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his...
2025-01-0607 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 73: What Do You Believe?John reads his poem “We were typical boys” from his chapbook All the Lonely American Roads. He also discusses childhood history lessons, competing worldviews, and our big dilemma in the year ahead. 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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publ...
2024-12-3007 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 71: A Poem About Hard Work and WeekendsJohn reads his poem “Sunday After Church” from his collection Sometimes I Still Pray. He also discusses “old neighborhood” characters, blues man John Lee Hooker, and what makes a poem a poem. 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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publishe...
2024-12-1607 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 70: Why Isn’t Your Book Funny?John reads from his novella Jigsaw Men. He also discusses the falseness of seriousness and the importance of humor in writing about big themes and addressing big issues, like environmental collapse. 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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published...
2024-12-0907 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 69: The Prophecies of Harry PartchJohn reads his poem “Mazda Marimba” from his chapbook Parchment: A Prayer Quintet. He also discusses art on the margins; world-changing ambition; and the transient, hobo tradition of American culture.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.w...
2024-12-0208 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 68: When Buddha Chooses ResistanceJohn reads his poem “Containment.” He discusses the struggle inherent in personal relationships, the danger of (American) attachments, how the personal turns political, and the ethics of bark mulch. 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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www...
2024-11-2510 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 67: If We Can Make It ThereJohn reads his poem “Vagabond Shoes.” He also discusses the New York of Frank Sinatra and Walt Whitman, the big dreams of the American past, and what poems can tell us about the changes to come. 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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discus...
2024-11-1814 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 66: We’re Finally On Our OwnJohn reads a section of his poem “For a minute there, it seemed like something was happening.” He discusses the importance of “useless” poems, the poverty of corporate values, and the Beatitudes. 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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published...
2024-11-1108 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 65: What It Means To Be TrueJohn reads a poem from his chapbook All the Lonely American Roads. He also discusses impractical pursuits (like writing), the trouble with “bias,” and the only way to separate fact from 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 Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publis...
2024-11-0411 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 64: The Writer at 50John reads a section of his chapbook-length poem Terminal D. He also discusses the practicalities of a creative life, the joys of literary independence, and the never-ending effort to break even.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published po...
2024-10-2810 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 63: Ecology and GenerosityJohn 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 Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.johntessitore.comTwitter: @Jo...
2024-10-2110 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 62: Love One AnotherJohn 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 Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.jo...
2024-10-1406 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 61: When In Doubt, Go BigJohn 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 Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems....
2024-10-0704 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 60: Vistas of the MindJohn 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 the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems....
2024-09-3007 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 59: Now Free With MeJohn 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 Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publis...
2024-09-2308 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 58: Art in a Time of CrisisJohn 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 Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems....
2024-09-1607 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 57: So Listen Up ‘Cause You Can’t Say Nothin’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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.johntessitore.comTwitter: @JohnTessitore2In...
2024-09-0910 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 56: Poetry is B******tJohn 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 Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www...
2024-09-0209 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 55: Get Behind MeJohn 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-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his...
2024-08-2606 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 54: We Discover the I TogetherJohn 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-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publis...
2024-08-1905 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 53: The Compassion of DarknessJohn 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 Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his...
2024-08-1207 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 52: The Last Gasp For GutenbergJohn 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-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discus...
2024-08-0505 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 51: Let’s Defy Common SenseJohn 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-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his...
2024-07-2907 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 50: Eve Battles the BulliesJohn 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-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publis...
2024-07-2208 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 49: The Fear of Flying FreeJohn 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-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publis...
2024-07-1506 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 48: Our Time is OursJohn 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 The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.jo...
2024-07-0808 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 47: Hooked on a FeelingJohn 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 Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publis...
2024-07-0105 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 46: Skeletons in the DesertJohn 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 Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.
2024-06-2408 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 45: Sexy Saints and Sinful SymbolsJohn 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-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his pu...
2024-06-1708 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 44: Illuminations and Cover VersionsJohn 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-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his pu...
2024-06-1110 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 43: Hard Work and Hoop DreamsJohn 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 national policy studies on education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he...
2024-06-0312 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 42: Some Sympathy for the DevilsJohn 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 education and civil justice. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discus...
2024-05-2710 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 41: On Having Friends Who Hate PoemsJohn 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 for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.w...
2024-05-2011 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 40: “The Potter” from The AmericansJohn 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 the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www...
2024-05-1206 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 39: “Marsyas” from We Are Becoming UnboundJohn 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-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems...
2024-05-0612 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 38: "Renaissance" from Body SongsJohn reads his poem "Renaissance," from his chapbook Body Songs. He also discusses the blah blah of literature, the honesty of rock and roll, and the number one reason why we write.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his pu...
2024-04-2908 min
Be TrueBe True, Bonus Episode: "Prophesy II, Chapter 3"John reads from his work-in-progress about the resurgence of old, male, monied American power.The age of Aquarius is a footnote
to our defeat, the hearts and minds
of a timid people afraid to doubt
too long in mournful night, afraid
to be judged before the next battle,
always girding to avoid the struggle
of darkness and light, the lonely
soul in mournful night, the calling
cry a wail, then a muster.
They choose
the slaughter
of innocents
to a levelling.
They chose power.
My people prefer the waste of war.
John Tessitore has been...
2024-04-2600 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 37: "Niches" from All the Lonely American RoadsJohn reads his poem "Niches," from his chapbook All the Lonely American Roads. He also discusses immigration, generational change and evolution, and finding your place in a country as big as America.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his pu...
2024-04-2209 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 36: "Arcturus"John reads his poem "Arcturus," originally published in Duck Head Journal. He also discusses lunar eclipses, the insignificance of many day-to-day cares, and the benefits of feeling small.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.ww...
2024-04-1506 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 35: "Acknowledgements"John reads his poem "Acknowledgements," from an unpublished collection.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.johntessitore.comTwitter: @JohnTessitore2Instagram: @jtessitorewriterTikTok: @JtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Wr...
2024-04-0802 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 34: "Palo Alto Nocturne" from The AmericansJohn reads his poem "Palo Alto Nocturne" from his collection The Americans. He also discusses literary influence, reasons to read, shades of drunkenness, and the staying power of Charles Bukowski.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems....
2024-04-0110 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 33: “We limited our liability” from My City of YesterdayJohn reads his poem, “We limited our liability,” from his chapbook My City of Yesterday. He also discusses the Book of Jonah, the ethics of suburban living, and being stuck in the belly of the beast. 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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discus...
2024-03-2410 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 32: "Bridge and Tunnel" from On Self-Expression After the RevolutionJohn reads his poem "Bridge and Tunnel" from his chapbook On Self-Expression After the Revolution. He also discusses the identity crisis of capitalism, NYC without hope, and the poems of Frank O'Hara.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his pu...
2024-03-1809 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 31: "Saturday Morning, Massachusetts" from The AmericansJohn reads his poem "Saturday Morning, Massachusetts" from his collection The Americans. He also discusses crazy bosses, personal fulfillment, and the three things he'd do no matter what. 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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.ww...
2024-03-1108 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 30: “Sunday Morning, Long Island” from Sometimes I Still PrayJohn reads his poem “Sunday Morning, Long Island,” from his chapbook Sometimes I Still Pray: A Family Album. He also discusses good neighbors and home repairs…with a tribute to The Temptations.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publishe...
2024-03-0406 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 29: “Beneath the Manhattan Bridge, Just Before Sunrise” from On Self-Expression After the RevolutionJohn reads his poem, “Beneath the Manhattan Bridge, Just Before Sunrise” from his new chapbook On Self-Expression After the Revolution. He also discusses New York punk and graffiti aspirations.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www...
2024-02-2610 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 28: “After Climbing” from The AmericansJohn reads his poem “After Climbing,” from his collection The Americans. He also discusses the trouble with middle age, the metaphor of mountain climbing, Sisyphus, and a nasty case of acrophobia.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems...
2024-02-1906 min
Be TrueBe True, Bonus Episode: “Amygdala”John reads “Amygdala,” a love poem for Valentine’s Day, originally published in Boats Against the Current (https://boatsagainstthecurrent.org).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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.johntessitore.comTwitter: @JohnTessitore2Instag...
2024-02-1401 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 27: “Vespucci in a moment of lonesome clarity,” from the new Wee Sparrow anthologyJohn reads his poem “Vespucci in a moment of lonesome clarity” from Ourselves in Rivers and Oceans by The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. Also…Jim Morrison, Herman Melville, and water water everywhere.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publishe...
2024-02-1210 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 26: “Mazda Marimba” from Parchment: A Prayer QuintetJohn reads an excerpt from his poem “Mazda Marimba” from his chapbook, Parchment: A Prayer Quintet. He also discusses the hometown blues, tortoise defiance, and the importance of getting naked.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.w...
2024-02-0509 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 25: “Capuchin”John reads his poem “Capuchin,” originally published in Wild Roof Journal. He also discusses the burdens of caretakers, the balance of chaos and order, Franciscan friars, and lots and lots of bones.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publis...
2024-01-2908 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 24: “I can never know how I will feel tomorrow,” from I Sit At This Desk and DreamJohn reads his poem “I can never know how I will feel tomorrow” from his chapbook I Sit At This Desk and Dream. He also discusses sex, spirituality, the sacred, and the incomparable Leonard Cohen.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of books and journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of...
2024-01-2208 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 23: “Downstairs, Aisle Five” from The AmericansJohn reads his poem “Downstairs, Aisle Five” from his collection The Americans. He also discusses the importance of used bookstores, the fleeting nature of name recognition, and artists with day jobs.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www...
2024-01-1510 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 22: “I’m told the rubble of war,” from For a minute there, it seemed like something was happening.John reads his poem “I’m told the rubble of war” from his chapbook, For a minute there…He also discusses The Vietnam War, veterans, and public memory. And he uses the phrase “Good God, ya’ll” twice!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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of...
2024-01-0812 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 21: “I have adjusted my expectations” from On Self-Expression After the RevolutionJohn reads “I have adjusted my expectations,” a poem from his forthcoming pamphlet On Self-Expression After the Revolution. He also discusses threats to humanism, Archie Bunker’s age, and the importance of owning our bodies.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of h...
2024-01-0112 min
Be TrueBe True, Bonus Episode: “And to all, a good night.”John reads “And to all, a good night,” a poem for the holiday.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.johntessitore.comTwitter: @JohnTessitore2Instagram: @jtessitorewriterTikTok: @JtessitorewriterFacebo...
2023-12-2400 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 20: “Mr. Harvey’s Advice”John reads “Mr. Harvey’s Advice,” his poem originally published in the Hidden in Childhood anthology. He also discusses childhood memories, fishing, and his nominee for a new holiday carol.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.john...
2023-12-1807 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 19: “That Ribbon of Highway” from The AmericansJohn reads “That Ribbon of Highway” from his collection of poems, The Americans. He also discusses the realities of road-life, Woody Guthrie’s greatest hit, and why we tell stories.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.john...
2023-12-1111 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 18: “This is my father’s city” from I Sit At This Desk and DreamJohn reads “This is my father’s city” from his chapbook I Sit At This Desk and Dream. He also discusses the sounds of childhood, enviable nicknames, and what it means to have a “home.”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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publishe...
2023-12-0509 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 17: “Harmony” from The AmericansJohn reads “Harmony” from his collection of poems, The Americans. He also discusses the importance of world languages, the wonder of bioacoustics, and the heroic work of Jessie little doe Baird.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www...
2023-11-2809 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 16: “A crane in the distance” from All the Lonely American RoadsJohn reads “A crane in the distance” from his chapbook All the Lonely American Roads. He also discusses magazine capitalism, the life and death of the American Dream, and the photos of Robert Frank.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publis...
2023-11-2210 min
Be TrueBe True, Bonus Episode: “Somehow I made it home okay,” a preview of The AmericansJohn reads “Somehow I made it home okay,” a poem from his forthcoming book of story-poems and pictures, The Americans.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.johntessitore.comTwitter: @JohnTessitore2Instagram: @jtessi...
2023-11-1701 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 15: “Chromolodeon” from Parchment: A Prayer QuintetJohn reads an excerpt of his poem “Chromolodeon” from his chapbook Parchment: A Prayer Quintet. He also discusses joyful rebellion, the progressive tradition, his love of Walt Whitman, and a fighter’s 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-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.
2023-11-1013 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 14: “Shaken earth was not his enemy” from My City of YesterdayJohn reads “Shaken earth was not his enemy” from his chapbook My City of Yesterday. He also discusses suburban odysseys, living open to opportunity, and how the perfect book cover fell into his lap.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publis...
2023-11-0309 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 13: “Marching past the flags” from For a minute there, it seemed like something was happening.John reads “Marching past the flags” from his chapbook, For a minute there… He also discusses colonialism, the price of “progress,” and an evening he spent with Yo Yo Ma.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.johntess...
2023-10-2410 min
Be TrueBe True, Bonus Episode: “Cycles”John reads “Cycles,” a protest poem, without commentary. 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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.johntessitore.comTwitter: @JohnTessitore2Instagram: @jtessitorewriterTikTok: @JtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, WriterThread...
2023-10-2101 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 12: “I am trying to be philosophical” from I Sit At This Desk and DreamJohn reads the opening sections of his chapbook I Sit At This Desk and Dream. He also discusses the value of Instagram, the power of creativity, and the genius of T.S. Eliot.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published po...
2023-10-1809 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 11: “There is no bruise without blood” from Body SongsJohn reads his poem, “There is no bruise without blood” from his chapbook Body Songs. He also discusses the radical potential of erotic love, the evils of repression, and why saints are nuts. 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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems...
2023-10-0810 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 10: “There was no perfection” from For A Minute There, It Seemed Like Something Was Happening.John reads “There was no perfection” from his chapbook For a minute there… He discusses the technologies of openness, U2’s extraordinary record, Achtung Baby, and the birth and death of the 90s dream.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published...
2023-10-0209 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 9: “Easter 2020”John reads his poem, “Easter 2020,” recently published in Boats Against the Current. He also discusses daffodils, New England’s stone walls, and life during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.johntess...
2023-09-2211 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 8: “The Narrow Gate” from All the Lonely American RoadsJohn reads his poem “The Narrow Gate” from his chapbook All the Lonely American Roads. He also discusses a-holes, driving on the Belt Parkway, and his father (not for the last time).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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.w...
2023-09-0810 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 7: “Such bitterness is how we express our frailty” from We Are Becoming UnboundJohn reads “Such bitterness is how we express our frailty” from his chapbook We Are Becoming Unbound. He also discusses crack-ups, albatrosses, and his Goth hero Charles Baudelaire.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.johntessitore.com
2023-08-3108 min
Be TrueBe True, Bonus Episode: “Blue and Brown”John reads “Blue and Brown,” his new protest poem, without commentary. 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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.johntessitore.comTwitter: @JohnTessitore2Instagram: @jtessitorewriterTikTok: @JtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writ...
2023-08-2403 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 6: “When you saw me the first time” from My City of YesterdayJohn reads “When you saw me the first time” from his chapbook My City of Yesterday. He discusses lyric poetry, private languages, and song writing (no spoilers!).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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems.www.johntessitore.com
2023-08-1607 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 5: “Sweating” from Sometimes I Still PrayJohn reads “Sweating” from his chapbook Sometimes I Still Pray: A Family Album. He discusses response poems, his grandfather’s pride in plumbing, and the poetry of Seamus Heaney.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his published poems. www.johnte...
2023-07-3110 min
Be TrueBe True, Episode 4: “It is easier to be earnest,” from For a Minute There, It Seemed Like Something Was Happening.John reads “It is easier to be earnest,” from his chapbook For a minute there... He discusses his inspiration in New York City in the 90s, the dangers of false optimism, and the poetry of Kurt Cobain.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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one...
2023-07-1709 min
Be TrueEpisode 1: “Dress Up” from Sometimes I Still Pray: A Family AlbumJohn reads “Dress Up,” from his new chapbook, Sometimes I Still Pray (available at johntessitore.com). He discusses the poem’s roots in childhood memory and its debt to the work of James Merrill. 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 Press. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals. In each episode of Be True, he reads and discusses one of his publishe...
2023-06-1706 min