by Ryan Keating

“So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:12

Death is at work in me
I can hear its promise faintly
The melody, the chorus, maybe one more verse
The terms, the conditions, the inevitable agreement
Encroaching, spreading, fulfilling
The cells and molecules made not to endure
An infection of impermanence

Death is at work in me
His song rises, a sacrifice
To drown out my soul’s unfair terms and conditions
Hoping for eventual agreement
To encroach, spread, fulfill
A promise I can feel trapped in my cells and molecules
An impermanent sentence

Death is at work in me
But life is at work in you

Ryan Keating is a pastor, writer, wine maker, and coffee roaster living on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. His work can be found in various plublications including Ekstasis Magazine, Christian Century, Box, and Miras Dergi, where he is a regular contributor in Turkish and English.