John Tessitore
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jtessitore.bsky.social
John Tessitore
@jtessitore.bsky.social
Writer
Podcast: Be True
Co-Editor Across the Pond for
The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press
www.johntessitore.com
https://linktr.ee/jtessitorewriter
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Just a reminder to kick off my new Blue Sky account...My small catalogue of chapbooks, including On Self-Expression After the Revolution, is available at johntessitore.com, along with links to my podcast, Be True, and some other stuff.
I hope you'll visit.
Thank you @rawheadjournal.bsky.social for publishing my weird Poe poem in your special Halloween issue, Bloody Bones. Not often that a dramatic monologue finds a home. Check out the whole issue!

rawheadjournal.org/rawhead-pres...
Rawhead Presents: Bloody Bones – Special Issue #1
RAWHEAD Presents: BLOODY BONES Special Issue #1 / Fall 2025 Cover by Alex Leigh Farber Editor’s Note Poetry Fiction Nonfiction Visual Art Poetry Evelyn Lee3 Poems Amy Kesegich1 Poem John Sara…
rawheadjournal.org
October 22, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
In this one, The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, the rights we defend…and the eerie echoes of King George III in 21st century America.

youtu.be/yaxCGIA4hts?...
Be True, Episode 113: We Hold These Truths
YouTube video by John Tessitore
youtu.be
October 5, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
Have you heard? Censorship is /so/ 1984.

Take action throughout #BannedBooksWeek and on its conclusion, #LetFreedomReadDay, on Saturday, 10/11. Let's #UniteAgainstBookBans and fight to make censorship a thing of the past—where it belongs! Learn more: uniteagainstbookbans.org/let-freedom-read-day
October 6, 2025 at 3:52 PM
In this one, The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, the rights we defend…and the eerie echoes of King George III in 21st century America.

youtu.be/yaxCGIA4hts?...
Be True, Episode 113: We Hold These Truths
YouTube video by John Tessitore
youtu.be
October 5, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
Thanks to @rawheadjournal.bsky.social for publishing this one. You can find Be True wherever you find your podcasts or visit linktr.ee/jtessitorewr....

#betrue #poetrypodcast #poetry #johntessitore #scholarship #research #goodandbad #humanism #ihavefriendseverywhere
September 28, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Thanks to @rawheadjournal.bsky.social for publishing this one. You can find Be True wherever you find your podcasts or visit linktr.ee/jtessitorewr....

#betrue #poetrypodcast #poetry #johntessitore #scholarship #research #goodandbad #humanism #ihavefriendseverywhere
September 28, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
September 21, 2025 at 12:37 PM
September 21, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
In this one I read “Chicago,” a poem by Carl Sandburg. I also discuss the changing fashions of American literature, and the dangers of cynicism, and celebrate the complicated diversity of American cities. linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...
September 14, 2025 at 11:40 AM
In this one I read “Chicago,” a poem by Carl Sandburg. I also discuss the changing fashions of American literature, and the dangers of cynicism, and celebrate the complicated diversity of American cities. linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...
September 14, 2025 at 11:40 AM
September 12, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
In this episode of my podcast Be True, I read "There's a certain slant of light," a poem by Emily Dickinson. I also discuss the joy of experiencing poetry rather than explaining poetry, and (bonus!) I do a bad Bob Dylan impression.

linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...
September 7, 2025 at 12:22 PM
In this episode of my podcast Be True, I read "There's a certain slant of light," a poem by Emily Dickinson. I also discuss the joy of experiencing poetry rather than explaining poetry, and (bonus!) I do a bad Bob Dylan impression.

linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...
September 7, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
Be True, Episode 108: Restless Wanderers on the Earth

In this one I read the poem “Thy Brother’s Blood” by Jones Very. I also discuss the poetry of transcendence, voices of outcasts, the tradition of American messiahs, and the future of American weirdness.

linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...
August 31, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Be True, Episode 108: Restless Wanderers on the Earth

In this one I read the poem “Thy Brother’s Blood” by Jones Very. I also discuss the poetry of transcendence, voices of outcasts, the tradition of American messiahs, and the future of American weirdness.

linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...
August 31, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
This is really about some of the things I’ve published in 2025 and why. You know the world’s a mess when my tone is comparatively “quiet.” open.substack.com/pub/johntess...
A Quieter Tone in a Louder World
Some thoughts about Substack chatter, American volume, and a summary of 2025 so far
open.substack.com
August 27, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Quick, Americans. Name that document!
August 27, 2025 at 5:12 PM
This is really about some of the things I’ve published in 2025 and why. You know the world’s a mess when my tone is comparatively “quiet.” open.substack.com/pub/johntess...
A Quieter Tone in a Louder World
Some thoughts about Substack chatter, American volume, and a summary of 2025 so far
open.substack.com
August 27, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
This episode is important to me. In it, I read Queen Hecuba’s speech of mourning from The Trojan Women, a play by Euripides. I also discuss the fear that drives violence, power’s war on children, and why protest is always too late.

Available on most podcasts or linktr.ee/jtessitorewr....
August 24, 2025 at 12:50 PM
This episode is important to me. In it, I read Queen Hecuba’s speech of mourning from The Trojan Women, a play by Euripides. I also discuss the fear that drives violence, power’s war on children, and why protest is always too late.

Available on most podcasts or linktr.ee/jtessitorewr....
August 24, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
In Episode 106 of my podcast Be True, I read my poem "Salvator Mundi,” originally published in The Paradox. I also discuss the challenges of faith and authenticity, the world's most expensive painting, the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci, and the mystery of being human.
linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...
August 17, 2025 at 12:45 PM
In Episode 106 of my podcast Be True, I read my poem "Salvator Mundi,” originally published in The Paradox. I also discuss the challenges of faith and authenticity, the world's most expensive painting, the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci, and the mystery of being human.
linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...
August 17, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
In Episode 105 of Be True, “People Trying to Stay Alive,” I read “Returning, We Hear the Larks,” a poem by Isaac Rosenberg, written during World War I. I also discuss the heroism of immigrants, the challenges of “identity,” and surviving a war zone.

linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...
August 10, 2025 at 12:47 PM
In Episode 105 of Be True, “People Trying to Stay Alive,” I read “Returning, We Hear the Larks,” a poem by Isaac Rosenberg, written during World War I. I also discuss the heroism of immigrants, the challenges of “identity,” and surviving a war zone.

linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...
August 10, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
An extraordinary surprise today. Two of my poems published by The Paradox. “Secatogue” is about place and home, among other things. “Salvador Mundi” is about faith and the world’s most expensive painting, among other things. Check them out at theparadoxmagazine.com.
August 6, 2025 at 3:53 PM