The River Is Wide

Series produced by Susan J. Cook

Caption: It is so hard to write you this sonnet/because I long for you in another way/ I want to make it like ''Shall I compare thee to a summer day?:"But then there was that summer day..., Credit: Susan Cook "Prologue to "Breathing: American Sonnets"
Image by: Susan Cook "Prologue to "Breathing: American Sonnets" 
It is so hard to write you this sonnet/because I long for you in another way/ I want to make it like ''Shall I compare thee to a summer day?:"But then there was that summer day... 

The River Is Wide is one listener's complement to public radio as media that has always made room for thoughtful discourse about human decency and prevention of harm. Written by a psychologist and political activist, The River Is Wide presents Citizen's Guides, The Dept of Poetic Justice (with lyrics for the Great American Wrongbook", The Indifference Diaries, sonnets when no other format seems appropriate, an ode here and there In the Department of Poetic Justice, Sixty-second Moral Inquiries and brief commentaries. Public radio can be a muse and PRX has become the pen and paper, yes, for many letter-to-the-editor writers, including this one.The series began after a local editor refused to publish a letter he called "uncivil" which criticized a political candidate for a failure to acknowledge human rights violations by the Chinese in his appeal to bring Chinese business to Maine. At a public forum, the Candidate for Governor was asked why he ignored this Chinese indifference to human rights. He replied, "What? Bring it on," he sneered. The censorship of "The humble Farmer" by Maine Public broadcasting for speaking against the Iraq War also influenced the creation of this series. We hope there will never come a day when the public conscience (and mine) ignore a flagrant omission of concern for human rights. Speaking truth to power about those omissions is the task of The River Is Wide series.

The series began rowing when a local editor refused to publish a letter criticizing a political candidate for a failure to acknowledge human rights violations by the Chinese government calling it "uncivil". When the former Candidate for Governor (who in 2022 was convicted as a child pornographer) at a public forum was asked why he ignored the human rights violations, he replied, "What? Bring it on," he sneered. Another inspiration has been the censorship of "The humble Farmer" by Maine Public broadcasting for speaking against the Iraq War. Citizen's Guides, The Indifference Diaries, sonnets and odes In the Department of Poetic Justice, and Sixty Second Moral Inquiries speak to issues that the public conscience (and mine) won't let us ignore and speak truth to power (everyone else's) especially surrounding freedom of speech in the media, injustice and harm. Hide full description

The series began rowing when a local editor refused to publish a letter criticizing a political candidate for a failure to acknowledge human rights violations by the Chinese government calling it "uncivil". When the former Candidate for Governor (who in 2022 was convicted as a child pornographer) at a public forum was asked why he ignored the human rights violations, he replied, "What? Bring it on," he sneered. Another inspiration has been the censorship of "The humble Farmer" by Maine Public broadcasting for speaking against the Iraq War. Citizen's Guides, The Indifference Diaries, sonnets and odes In the Department of Poetic Justice, and Sixty Second Moral Inquiries speak to issues that the public conscience (and mine) won't let us ignore and speak truth to power (everyone else's)... Show full description


323 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: It is so hard to write you this sonnet/because I long for you in another way/ I want to make it like ''Shall I compare thee to a summer day?:"But then there was that summer day..., Credit: Susan Cook "Prologue to "Breathing: American Sonnets"
Testimony about an accuser of a Supreme Court Nominee will take place before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Today's Sixty Second Moral inquiry as...

  • Added: Sep 25, 2018
  • Length: 01:12
Caption: ...If a body catch a body coming through the rye..., Credit: Susan Cook
The thickness of moral skin is sometimes measured in the willingness of its inhabitants to take on the risk of being the catcher in the rye- the on...

  • Added: Oct 06, 2018
  • Length: 08:19
Caption: A Proverb: He who seeks a compliment sometimes receives the truth..., Credit: Susan Cook
In the Department of Poetic Justice (and Reckoning) with lyrics for the Great American Wrongbook and sung to the tune (Traditional) from "My Old Ke...

  • Added: Oct 08, 2018
  • Length: 02:25
Caption: ...More money for me.., Credit: Susan Cook
In the Department of Poetic Justice (and Reckoning) , a generic anthem for each and every Election 2018 Senate candidate.

  • Added: Oct 21, 2018
  • Length: 05:19
Caption: Rough seas..., Credit: Susan Cook
Sailing toward the Midterm election, lyrics for the Great American Wrongbook sung to a seafaring tune.

  • Added: Oct 27, 2018
  • Length: 02:39
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Insurers who raise health care premiums, systematically deflect accountability for increases as necessary to cover rising health care costs. Deduc...

  • Added: Nov 02, 2018
  • Length: 07:48
Caption: There are race tracks that run horses daily...Picking ponies a good gig...", Credit: Susan Cook
A musical tribute to polling before Election Day! In the Department of Poetic Justice (and Reckoning) with lyrics for "The Great American Wrongboo...

  • Added: Nov 05, 2018
  • Length: 03:20
Caption: Climate change will make Florida much hotter..., Credit: Susan Cook
A musical tribute to a special soon-to-be-retiring Government Elected! George Gershwin might not mind if you sing this to his 1937 "They Can't Take...

  • Added: Nov 15, 2018
  • Length: 03:51
Caption: Species: jodchumaryliz.newjerszeyish.corruptus, Credit: Susan Cook
As Maine's new Governor has formed a transition team. A "How to Honor the Public Trust Guide" might be helpful.

  • Added: Dec 05, 2018
  • Length: 08:59
Caption: "May all beings be well and happy, May all beings be harmonious and peaceful, May all have the light, The way out of suffering, The way home..., Credit:  Bodhisaatva Vow
Some holiday recommendations for divorced parents, the American Bar Association and all who re-cast the spell of Santa Claus every year.

  • Added: Dec 17, 2018
  • Length: 08:12
Caption: Santa Claus pays it forward..., Credit: Susan Cook
Musical tribute with Santa Claus paying attention to who's marginal and who's not!

  • Added: Jan 05, 2019
  • Length: 02:10
Caption: "...Should old fish stories be forgot and never allowed to surface..., Credit: Susan Cook
To the tune from Auld Lang Syne - for the Great American Wrongbook- a musical tribute to say farewell to the past and anticipate a more visionary ...

  • Added: Dec 30, 2018
  • Length: 05:46
Caption: The Wrech of the Rebecca Douglass, the last Coaster to Sail Downeast, Credit: Susan Cook
A musical tribute to Newt Gingrich, sung to a tune from "How do you solve a Problem Like Maria?" from "The Sound of Music". Music is one of the f...

  • Added: Jan 14, 2019
  • Length: 05:37
Caption: Downward facing dog..., Credit: Susan Cook
Great American Wrong Book lyrics for Mr. Bannon, now that Roger Stone, one of 6 of his former campaign colleagues indicted, is one of 3 now convict...

  • Added: Jan 25, 2019
  • Length: 02:47
Caption: The Sword of Damocles, Credit: Susan Cook
Quick and to the point! Citizens' Guides adapted from Greek myths, proverbs and so on.

  • Added: Jan 26, 2019
  • Length: 01:23
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A lyrical tribute to a history buff who just might have the Big picture (and a certain State of the Union address) in his back pocket!

  • Added: Feb 06, 2019
  • Length: 03:37
Caption: "...Irrelevant...how'd you get to be irrelevant...", Credit: Susan Cook
Attention Evangelicals! What if Jesus holds the Second Coming down in San Joaquin- you all stuck on the other side of the W--- that You Know Who ju...

  • Added: Jul 17, 2019
  • Length: 05:21
Caption: Exactly how many marshmellows were involved is probably in his tax returns..., Credit: Susan Cook
In the Dept. of Poetic Justice (and Reckoning) with lyrics for the Great American Wrongbook!

  • Added: Mar 01, 2019
  • Length: 02:09
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I have for months tried to figure out the loose association that comes to mind when my voice-activated GPS begins. After Paul Manafort's sentencin...

  • Added: Mar 11, 2019
  • Length: 05:56
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A recent Fresh Air interview with Heidi Schreck about the Supreme Court recognition of privacy as the premise for a woman's right to control her ow...

  • Added: Mar 21, 2019
  • Length: 07:28