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.