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Thinking About Jericho Road

Ekphrasis on Album Cover Art – 3-28-25
Jericho Road – Written, sung, recorded by poet
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Thinking About Jericho Road

A road with no name, where earth births stillborn stones,
Snakes through stillness
Into a fading perspective that neither winks nor smiles
Not touching impotent palms of bleached fronds,
Colored in the scent of cold ashes,
To whisper a chorus of mystery
To saints and sinner
In shades of hard steel
And colors of monotony on this threadbare path.

Blank road devoid of thought, 
A monorhyme of barren greys and dust
Without imagination,
Makes no covenants with curses or blessings
Kings or pilgrims
Or with the fragile flower
Changeless except to remain 
One moment held by time, that knows each name,
Without a star, only an invitation for resurrection.

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Joe Maverick Date: 6/2/2025 1:22:00 PM Back atcha Sam..Yet life is definitley like this.' Here is me stating the obvious.' Being as you are Alive..Oh never mind me.?? Pertinent anyway all blessings.' Login to Reply

Bj Legros Kelley Date: 5/22/2025 11:35:00 PM This is very beautiful Sam. How does one find your music? Login to Reply

Jennifer Proxenos Date: 4/27/2025 4:29:00 AM Sam you are a wonderful human being, an exceptional friend, and an awesome poet. I read and re-read this poem and am so awed by your biblical knowledge and content in this poetic gem. I studied Biblical studies for my honors degree which I completed and graduated for in 200l. I was already in my early forties, but decided to study later in life. Sam i wish you and your family all the best and send you blessings my friend. Hugs Jennifer. Login to Reply Sam Kauffman Date: 4/27/2025 9:39:00 PM Thank you, dear friend. In writing my music and developing the programs for my ministry I have learned so such. To be able to share our pilgrim journey, our poems and our friendship is a precious gift! Thank you. I know you are getting ready to celebrate Easter. In my prayers, dear friend. Sending you joy!!!

Nette Onclaud Date: 4/21/2025 6:37:00 AM remarkable musings about spiritual rebirth..well done, sam Login to Reply Sam Kauffman Date: 4/27/2025 9:31:00 PM Hi Nette! Thank you so much. You are so right about the meaning of this poem as we all walk the road between wilderness and resurrection. I hope your Easter season is filled with joy!

Paige Hind Date: 4/20/2025 9:30:00 PM What an Easter piece of writing! This had such a haunting outline. A fav- !!! Login to Reply Sam Kauffman Date: 4/22/2025 8:15:00 PM Thanks so much, Paige! The road from Jericho to Jerusalem goes through the wilderness- a great metaphor for the wilderness before Easter. So happy you picked up the reference. Easter joy to you!

Sara Kendrick Date: 4/19/2025 3:24:00 PM On the Jericho Road there is room for just two. No more and no less than Jesus and you. Each burden He'll bear and each sorrow He'll share. On the Jericho Road just Jesus and you. An old song that came to mind. Thank you for sharing this one with us. It is very expressive, descriptive and creative. If for a contest, it reads like a winner to me. Way to go. Sara K Login to Reply Sam Kauffman Date: 4/19/2025 6:52:00 PM Sara, I love those lyrics! Thank you for sharing them! I am so glad this poem reminded you of this song and that we got to share some of this road together with our eternal companion. Easter Joy to you!!

Andrea Dietrich Date: 4/17/2025 11:16:00 PM Fantastic here. I see no congrats but I am sure you must be on the winner list! Login to Reply Sam Kauffman Date: 4/22/2025 8:09:00 PM Hi Andrea! Thank you so much! This poem is based on my song Jericho Road, the title song on my album of the same name. I am so glad you enjoyed this lyric. It is special to me. Easter blessings!

Gary Radice Date: 4/14/2025 1:35:00 PM Well, a quick few clicks and I found the album in question..and Wowzer! Kudos to you. :) I’ve spent the last 20 minutes or so listening to several tracks from the dulcet tones of you Ms Kauffman - and hey, what a lovely soulful voice you have and what great production on the album too - particularly on the track “Man On A Hill”. Your ekphrasis skilfully captures the spirit of the album’s cover. The ‘stillborn stones’ describe the barren wasteland beautifully on the pilgrim’s journey. Congratulations. Wonderful stuff. Cheers - Gary Login to Reply Sam Kauffman Date: 4/14/2025 7:50:00 PM I am so honored by your wonderful feedback! Thank you so much, Gary! I am truly blessed to have a producer who worked in Nashville. Thank you for taking the time to listen to this album and I love Man on a Hill! I truly feel blessed to have written and recorded this album. It is special to me. Blessings and cheers to you!!

Evelyn Judy Buehler Date: 4/13/2025 3:22:00 PM This is an amazing poem, Sam! I absolutely love it! It is a fave. Login to Reply Sam Kauffman Date: 4/14/2025 11:57:00 AM Hi Evelyn! I am so honored by your fav especially since it is a poem written in grays and monotones absent of your amazing kaleidoscopes! This contest was a wonderful opportunity to go back and mentally walk this pilgrim's road both in song and in spirit! I am gratified by so many wonderful responses to it. Sending you blessings of flowers on Jericho Road.

thriveni c mysore Date: 4/12/2025 7:38:00 PM +FAV, +FAV +FAV a bliss to read you dear poet. Oh! Login to Reply thriveni c mysore Date: 4/14/2025 1:18:00 AM Oh my! Sam Kauffman Date: 4/13/2025 10:05:00 AM Thank you many times over Thriveni! Your wonderful compliments and hour fav have just made my morning! This poem is based on lyrics for my song Jericho Road which is about a pilgrim's journey through the wilderness, over the mountains and into the resurrection. I am just thrilled you like it! You can see the album cover and hear the song on music.apple.com or iHeart radio! Sending you cheers and blessings and my gratitude

Kim Rodrigues Date: 4/9/2025 12:38:00 PM earth births stillborn stones… One moment held by time… A monorhyme of barren greys and dust…interesting, sad, Login to Reply Sam Kauffman Date: 4/14/2025 11:51:00 AM Kim, thank you for your thoughtful compliments. The Judean wilderness is a sad place where nothing but stones grow. But it links Jericho and Jerusalem - secular to holy. This poem is a reflection on the wilderness we travel to reach the sacred. Sending you blessings for your Lenten journey.

Valsa George Date: 4/1/2025 9:25:00 PM So beautiful my dear Sam, the gifted lady.. These lines have a haunting effect on me. We have been to Jericho, Palestine and Jordan on our trip to the Holy Land in 2011. I remember having walked through the barren land of 'still born stones'. "Blank road devoid of thought, A mono rhyme of barren greys and dust Without imagination":How accurate and true is your description of that land where once the feet of jesus had created imprints. "Without a star, only an invitation for resurrection." Wow... an impressive conclusion so true to the spirit of barrenness seen in the place. Login to Reply Sam Kauffman Date: 4/14/2025 11:45:00 AM Dearest Valsa, your beautiful message makes my heart do a happy dance! Thank you! I am so honored that these lines truly do describe this wilderness. I love your description of this wilderness as "haunting!" I also think of it as a place of both bodily and spiritual danger! Yet, we never walk alone and the thought of walking in Jesus' steps is precious! If you would like to see the album cover it is on Apple Music along with a sample of the song. Sending you blessings, dear friend, as we travel to Jerusalem once again!

Michael Tor Date: 3/31/2025 11:24:00 PM Sam this is amazing and it reflects your biblical knowledge. So impressive I am going to favor. God bless you my friend... Login to Reply Sam Kauffman Date: 4/14/2025 11:36:00 AM Hi Michael! Thank you so much! I do a program called Journey to Jerusalem before Easter. Did a lot of research on the Judean wilderness between Jericho and Jerusalem then wrote a song called Jericho Road which is the title song to my sixth album. This contest was an amazing opportunity to comment on the album cover which I love! You can see the cover on Apple Music. I am so grateful for your wonderful message! Makes the wilderness a little easier! Sending you blessings my friend as we get ready to walk that wilderness this year! So honored by your fav!

Andrea Dietrich Date: 3/31/2025 10:30:00 PM Gosh I wish I knew how to write this way. I know the sponsor will love this imagery. Login to Reply Sam Kauffman Date: 4/12/2025 9:58:00 AM Andrea, your feedback is truly a precious gift and so encouraging! Thank you! You have such an amazing ability to draw me into your poems through your imagery and wonderful storytelling ability. How blessed are we to both have such unique writing styles. Your poems definitely encourage me and motivate me. Thank you for that gift. Sending you blessings of flowers on Jericho road - the way of the pilgrim.

Juliet Ligon Date: 3/31/2025 2:00:00 PM Well described with creatively poignant phrasing. A fav for me! Login to Reply Sam Kauffman Date: 3/31/2025 9:26:00 PM Hi Juliet! So wonderful to receive your lovely feedback. I am deeply thankful for your fav! Thank you! So happy to see you back in the soup! Hope you are well! Blessings!