John reads Amy Lowell’s poem, “Fatigue.” He also discusses the persistence of the life force, the confusion of living in darkness, recognizing coping strategies, and the ultimate importance of sex.

In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—John reads and discusses the writing he loves, and sometimes his own, inviting listeners to live more fully with and through literature.

John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press.

www.johntessitore.com Substack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social

John reads John Keats’s “Ode on a Grecian Urn.” He also discusses the alchemy of art, the pursuit of the impossible, and the problem with “perfection”...all in tribute to the late singer Glen Hansard.

In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—John reads and discusses the writing he loves, and sometimes his own, inviting listeners to live more fully with and through literature.

John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press.

www.johntessitore.com Substack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social

John reads a section of his long poem “My City of Yesterday.” He also discusses the challenges of navigating our individual journeys, the importance of metaphors, and feeling like we’re always at-sea.

In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—John reads and discusses the writing he loves, and sometimes his own, inviting listeners to live more fully with and through literature.

John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press.

www.johntessitore.comSubstack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social

John reads Medea’s interior monologue from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. He also discusses anxious minds in anxious times; the circularity, desperation, and compulsion of anxiety; and the need for compassion.

In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—John reads and discusses the writing he loves, and sometimes his own, inviting listeners to live more fully with and through literature.

John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press.

www.johntessitore.com

Substack: @johntessitore

YouTube: @johntessitore6366

Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1

TikTok: @jtessitorewriter

Facebook: JohnTessitore, Writer

Threads: @jtessitorewriter

BlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social

John reads “Tea at the Palaz of Hoon,” a poem by Wallace Stevens. He also discusses persistence, late-career success, the self-knowledge that comes with maturity, and the surprising rise of Vozinha.

In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—John reads and discusses the writing he loves, and sometimes his own, inviting listeners to live more fully with and through literature.

John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press.

www.johntessitore.comSubstack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social

John reads “A Prayer for Us,” a poem by Crisosto Apache. He also discusses the nation’s 250th anniversary, American ambivalence, his friendship with a U.S. Supreme Court justice, and a lifelong crush.

Visit crisostoapache.com for more about the poet featured in this episode.

In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—John reads and discusses the writing he loves, and sometimes his own, inviting listeners to live more fully with and through literature.

John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press.

www.johntessitore.comSubstack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social

John reads poems by the Japanese poet, philosopher, and founder of Sōtō Zen, Eihei Dōgen. He also discusses his struggles with autoimmune disease and stress management, and his interest in meditation.

John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press.

In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—John reads and discusses “the writing he loves and the writing he does,” the lessons he has learned and continues to learn in a life of literature.

www.johntessitore.com Substack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social

John reads the opening of The Odyssey, Homer’s epic poem. He also discusses the power of literature to create community, and why he’s rooting for the success of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film.

John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press.

In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—he reads and discusses “the writing he loves and the writing he does.”

www.johntessitore.comSubstack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social

John reads “Invictus,” a poem by William Ernest Henley. He also discusses his need for a team, the limits of heroic individual, the importance of community, and the special courage of Nelson Mandela.

John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press.

In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—he reads and discusses “the writing he loves and the writing he does.”

www.johntessitore.comSubstack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social

John reads Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken.” He also discusses a wistful graduation season, clichéd commencement addresses, the power of confidence, and the secret of his father’s success.

John Tessitore is a writer, poet, and liberal arts advocate. His poems have appeared in a variety of journals, he has published several chapbooks and two novellas. He has been a journalist, biographer, and editor, taught history and literature at colleges around Boston, managed national policy studies on education and civil justice, and directs a national language-education association. He serves as Co-Editor Across the Pond for The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press.

In each episode of Be True—available on most major podcast platforms—he reads and discusses “the writing he loves and the writing he does.”

www.johntessitore.comSubstack: @johntessitore YouTube: @johntessitore6366Instagram: @jtessitorewriter1 TikTok: @jtessitorewriterFacebook: JohnTessitore, Writer Threads: @jtessitorewriterBlueSky: @jtessitore.bsky.social