John Samuel Tieman: All I Want For Christmas Is –
A society that respects all races and religions; A culture that honors its LGBTQ community; A woman’s right to choose what happens to her body; A near total ban on … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: A Civics Lesson
Freedom can exist only in the society of knowledge. — Benjamin Rush When I taught high school, I once caught a boy scribbling anti-Semitic graffiti on a desk. He … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: On Doubt And The Wednesday Messiah
I think Mishima once said that before the golden pagoda burns, a hymn begins with the scratch of a single match. If he didn’t say it, he should have. I’m … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier
It is late as I write. 3 AM. This is when I feel them most keenly. The boys who didn’t come home from the war. You would think that such … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: On Love and Sacrifice
What I hate about Trump, and folks like Trump, is this. He doesn’t debate immigration policy. He hates Mexicans. He doesn’t debate theology. He hates Muslims. He doesn’t hate poverty. … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: Altimeter
during a walk at 10 or 11,000′ I sit on a rock breathless and silent because I am old and fat and climbing Aspen Mountain so I want to write … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: My War as a Clarinetist
“One time, the band played a welcoming ceremony for these grunts – and I mean they walked right out of the bush and into “Stars and Stripes Forever.” John Samuel … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: God is in her Hand
When I was a young teacher, I used to baffle my students by asking them to prove that their hands exist. And while my youth was in many ways both … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: A Few Brief Words
To My Friends In The N. R. A. And Folks Reading This Essay In Starbucks As I write, there’s more news about the shooting in Dallas. Which blends into the … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: The Sadness Of Alan Seeger
The American poet Alan Seeger died July 4, 1916 — 100 years ago today. There are many cliches about this or that “forgotten war”. World War I is by no … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: Editing
–for Denis Lane This other Nam vet comes to see me and wants me to see his manuscript. He brings this nosh, some bagels, so I say OK, let’s … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: The Break-in
for the wives of war veterans there’s no particular way to hold the past in one hand but she knew his medals were in the drawer he never opened she … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: After Reading Sappho
. [For you] the fragrant-blossomed Muses’ lovely gifts [be zealous] girls, [and the] clear melodious lyre. [but my once tender] body old age now [has seized] my hair’s turned [white] … Continue reading
John Samuel Tieman: Ghost Story
the starlings swirling and loud you’d think the years would put the thing to rest you’d think the words would hurry the drive to silence still it comes and goes … Continue reading
