"Dream of Solomon" by Luca Giordano‘Insomnia’ and Other Poetry by Joe Tessitore The Society February 17, 2018 Beauty, Humor, Poetry 23 Comments Insomnia Many’s the night I lie in bed with words to write that fill my head. They twist and turn and jump and shout. Oh how I yearn to get them out! So off I go into my den. With lights turned low I lift my pen. At last I’m free! They’ll soon be read but not by me – I’m back in bed! Toward the Light… my hands no longer hunger my loins no longer burn but as my heart grows younger the more that it does yearn to be consumed by fire aflame forevermore a victim on the pyre that guides to heaven’s shore The Leftist How readily your hatred shows! How steadily your anger grows! Your vitriol upon the page and in your mirror, seething rage. Accusations wildly thrown – the ugliness perhaps your own? Your willful blindness on display; the price the mindless ever pay. Poetry To turn a phrase and make you smile or to transport you for a while; another place, another time, the journey of enchanting rhyme. And by a well-constructed verse in joy your spirit to immerse. To cheer your heart and set it free all through the art of poetry. Joe Tessitore is a retired New York City resident and poet. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. Trending now: 23 Responses Fr. Richard Libby February 17, 2018 All four are very well done, Mr. Tessitore! I got a chuckle out of “Insomnia”; I know what it’s like to have writing projects run through my head after I lie down. Reply Lenore February 17, 2018 I very much enjoyed these perceptive poems! Reply Regina Fortunato February 17, 2018 A sweet and special bday gift for me from my brother! Reply Fr. Richard Libby February 17, 2018 Happy birthday! Reply Sally Cook February 17, 2018 Dear Joe – I read your new poems with great pleasure. The meter is solid, the words descriptive and concise. You are really turning out some polished poems, and I always look forward to reading them. Best – Sally Reply Amy Foreman February 17, 2018 A joy to read, Mr. Tessitore! Reply Joe Tessitore February 17, 2018 Thank you all for your very kind words. I would be remiss in not thanking Sally for insisting that I get my writing act together. I am truly in her debt. Reply Christine Tessitore February 17, 2018 4 for 4! ❤️ Reply David Paul Behrens February 17, 2018 Many times lines of poetry have passed through my head but if I fail to write it down it is gone forever, which is why I keep a pad, pen and flashlight on my nightstand. Nice poems, Joe. Reply Joe Tessitore February 17, 2018 Thank you David. Reply David Watt February 17, 2018 Joe, your poem ‘Poetry’ sums up all four pieces. ‘To turn a phrase and make you smile or to transport you for a while; another place, another time, the journey of enchanting rhyme’ Well done. Reply Joe Tessitore February 17, 2018 Thank you very much! Reply Steven Shaffer February 18, 2018 I’m new to this site, having always thought I was the only one left that was interested in poems with meter and rhyme. These are the first I’m reading on this site, and I have to say — off to a great start! Very nice! Reply Joe Tessitore February 18, 2018 I think we all come here feeling that way. Welcome aboard! You’re in for a treat. There are quite a few truly remarkable poets among us. Thank you for your kind words. Reply Trevor Siggers February 18, 2018 Joe Love Insomnia. Been there. Great place to write from. It’s getting a somnambulist to take the stuff to the post that keeps me awake. Your ‘Poetry’ is a gem, too. But how did you attain the status of retired resident in the city that never sleeps? And, how come a retired poet is still scribbling lines that knock the socks from their pegs and words from their pens? Retire? Leave that to Goodyear, keep cool/calm and carry on. Best wishes Trevor Reply Joe Tessitore February 18, 2018 I retired on the courage of my wife’s apron strings and haven’t regretted a day of it! I used your “retired” pun in a poem a while ago. Will see if I can find it. Reply Joe Tessitore February 18, 2018 Found it! I think you’ll like it: They docked my pay at the end of the pier so I paid a lot less tax that year. I went to work and I punched the clock and it punched me back with a tick and a tock. I countered with a jab and a hook and caught a fish in the donnybrook. Before the boss could say I was fired I jumped into bed for the night and retired. Trevor Siggers February 21, 2018 Love this battle of the times. Our Creative Writing group’s ‘homework’ for this week was “As time goes by” – (good old Herman – what a song!) Anyways ticks and tocks and grandfather’s featured. Mine was a waste of – rhyme wise – time was when I could not write verse. With practice, I’ve got worse. Thanks for the fun.Trevor Leo Yankevich February 18, 2018 I love them all, Mr Tessitore. They’re all well-done made. Reply Joe Tessitore February 19, 2018 Thank you Leo. Your last poem was loved by all, including my wife. I have to admit that, like the swallows, it flew right over my head. The shortcoming very clearly rests with me. If you wrote it in slant verse, then my aging brain is no longer flexible enough to appreciate it. In any event, I do hope you can see your way clear to address me as Joe. I do feel a strong connection with you, and Mr. Tessitore is so formal. Reply Wendy Bourke February 20, 2018 Wonderfully constructed … brilliantly rhymed … cleverly rendered. A pleasure to read. Reply Joe Tessitore February 21, 2018 Thank you very much! Reply David Hollywood February 22, 2018 Smashing poetry. So refreshing!Thank you. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Fr. Richard Libby February 17, 2018 All four are very well done, Mr. Tessitore! I got a chuckle out of “Insomnia”; I know what it’s like to have writing projects run through my head after I lie down. Reply
Sally Cook February 17, 2018 Dear Joe – I read your new poems with great pleasure. The meter is solid, the words descriptive and concise. You are really turning out some polished poems, and I always look forward to reading them. Best – Sally Reply
Joe Tessitore February 17, 2018 Thank you all for your very kind words. I would be remiss in not thanking Sally for insisting that I get my writing act together. I am truly in her debt. Reply
David Paul Behrens February 17, 2018 Many times lines of poetry have passed through my head but if I fail to write it down it is gone forever, which is why I keep a pad, pen and flashlight on my nightstand. Nice poems, Joe. Reply
David Watt February 17, 2018 Joe, your poem ‘Poetry’ sums up all four pieces. ‘To turn a phrase and make you smile or to transport you for a while; another place, another time, the journey of enchanting rhyme’ Well done. Reply
Steven Shaffer February 18, 2018 I’m new to this site, having always thought I was the only one left that was interested in poems with meter and rhyme. These are the first I’m reading on this site, and I have to say — off to a great start! Very nice! Reply
Joe Tessitore February 18, 2018 I think we all come here feeling that way. Welcome aboard! You’re in for a treat. There are quite a few truly remarkable poets among us. Thank you for your kind words. Reply
Trevor Siggers February 18, 2018 Joe Love Insomnia. Been there. Great place to write from. It’s getting a somnambulist to take the stuff to the post that keeps me awake. Your ‘Poetry’ is a gem, too. But how did you attain the status of retired resident in the city that never sleeps? And, how come a retired poet is still scribbling lines that knock the socks from their pegs and words from their pens? Retire? Leave that to Goodyear, keep cool/calm and carry on. Best wishes Trevor Reply
Joe Tessitore February 18, 2018 I retired on the courage of my wife’s apron strings and haven’t regretted a day of it! I used your “retired” pun in a poem a while ago. Will see if I can find it. Reply
Joe Tessitore February 18, 2018 Found it! I think you’ll like it: They docked my pay at the end of the pier so I paid a lot less tax that year. I went to work and I punched the clock and it punched me back with a tick and a tock. I countered with a jab and a hook and caught a fish in the donnybrook. Before the boss could say I was fired I jumped into bed for the night and retired.
Trevor Siggers February 21, 2018 Love this battle of the times. Our Creative Writing group’s ‘homework’ for this week was “As time goes by” – (good old Herman – what a song!) Anyways ticks and tocks and grandfather’s featured. Mine was a waste of – rhyme wise – time was when I could not write verse. With practice, I’ve got worse. Thanks for the fun.Trevor
Joe Tessitore February 19, 2018 Thank you Leo. Your last poem was loved by all, including my wife. I have to admit that, like the swallows, it flew right over my head. The shortcoming very clearly rests with me. If you wrote it in slant verse, then my aging brain is no longer flexible enough to appreciate it. In any event, I do hope you can see your way clear to address me as Joe. I do feel a strong connection with you, and Mr. Tessitore is so formal. Reply
Wendy Bourke February 20, 2018 Wonderfully constructed … brilliantly rhymed … cleverly rendered. A pleasure to read. Reply
