Luke 2:29

Presentation of Christ Dionysius Monastery Athos

Νῦν ἀπολύεις
τὸν δοῦλόν σου,
δέσποτα,
κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου
ἐν εἰρήνῃ

Nun apolueis
ton doulon sou,
despota,
kata to rhêma sou
en eirênê

Now release
your slave,
master,
according to your word
in peace

Tyrant life,
you gave me all you could
or all you would,
to you I have been
your simian

You, master, may be master of your slave
but your slave is master of you,
because
your slave can thrive
without you, master

But you, master,
you cannot live without your slave,
you cannot hide your scaredy-cat dependence;
when slaves die
masters panic

At my age,
tyrant life,
all I can ask
is peace
and you can ask nothing more of me

Now tyrant,
set your slave free
to go in peace,
as you promised,
while you suffer in panic