C.P. Cavafey's Priest at the Serapeion

Sketch of Palazzo Colonna (1534-1536) by Marten van Heemskerck showing the remains of the ancient Temple of Serapis.

Translated by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard

my kind old father

whose love for me has always stayed the same-

I mourn my kind old father

who died two days ago, just before dawn

Christ Jesus, I try each day

in my every thought, word, and deed

to keep the commandments

of your most holy Church; and I abhor

all who deny you.  But now I mourn:

I grieve, O Christ, for my father

even though he was- terrible to say it-

priest at that cursed Serapeion.