John Tessitore
LightNews LightNews
banner
jtessitore.bsky.social
John Tessitore
@jtessitore.bsky.social
120 followers 210 following 43 posts
Writer
Podcast: Be True
Co-Editor Across the Pond for
The Wee Sparrow Poetry Press
www.johntessitore.com
https://linktr.ee/jtessitorewriter
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
jtessitore.bsky.social
John Tessitore @jtessitore.bsky.social · May 30
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.
Reposted by John Tessitore
sasainspires.bsky.social
🪨 See what happens when you try to cheat death! Sisyphus was a king from Greek mythology. Though he pulled many tricks in his life, his greatest was escaping death - twice!
November 21, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
sasainspires.bsky.social
🎶 In her song ‘Cassandra’, Taylor Swift sings, “So they killed Cassandra first ‘cause she feared the worst / And tried to tell the town”. But who is Cassandra, and what does she have to do with Swift’s feud with Kimye?
November 6, 2025 at 4:49 PM
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
uabookbans.bsky.social
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
Banned Books Week. Oct. 5-11, 2025. Censorship is so 1984. Read for your rights. ALA.org/BBooks. ALA American Library Association.
October 6, 2025 at 3:52 PM
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
You can find Be True wherever you find your podcasts, or visit linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

#poetry #poetrypodcast #betrue #cavafy #cities #immigrantstories #johntessitore #ihavefriendseverywhere
September 21, 2025 at 12:37 PM
jtessitore.bsky.social
You can find Be True wherever you find your podcasts, or visit linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...

#poetry #poetrypodcast #betrue #cavafy #cities #immigrantstories #johntessitore #ihavefriendseverywhere
September 21, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
For more visit
linktr.ee/jtessitorewr...
September 12, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Reposted by John Tessitore
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
Quick, Americans. Name that document!
August 27, 2025 at 5:12 PM
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
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
jtessitore.bsky.social
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