by Ryan Keating
His forehead touches mine Bowing low to meet me Where I have been stained. I feel the warmth of his body And his breath on my face As he takes up my cross Of ashes.
Ryan Keating is a pastor, winemaker, and coffee roaster on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. His work can be found in publications such as Saint Katherine Review (forthcoming), Ekstasis Magazine, Christian Century, and Miras Dergi, where he is a regular contributor in English and Turkish.