I Am a Priest of God
I Am a Priest of God - context Summary
Composed in 1966
Written in 1966 and included in the collection Parasites of Heaven, Leonard Cohen's poem records a moment of personal questioning. It presents Cohen's conflicted self-image as both a sacred figure and a worldly man—claiming priestly identity while admitting sensuality, moral lapses, and public solitude. The tone balances irony and sincerity to portray spiritual vocation as ambiguous and provisional rather than assured. The poem reflects a pivotal year in Cohen's life, registering doubt about authority, responsibility, and belief instead of offering clear doctrinal answers.
Read Complete AnalysesI am a priest of God I walk down the road with my pockets in my hand. Sometimes I'm bad then sometimes I'm very good I believe that I believe everything I should. I like to hear you say when you dance with head rolling upon a silver tray that I am a priest of God. I thought I was doing a thousand other things, but I was a priest of God I loved a thousand women never told the same lie twice. I said O! Christ you're selfish but I shared my bread and rice. I heard my voice tell the crowd that I was alone and a priest of God making me so empty that even now in 1966 I'm not sure I'm a priest of God.
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