Religion
Gitanjali 86: Death, thy servant
Translated by Rabindranath Tagore (1912) · From Gitanjali (1912)
Death, thy servant, is at my door. He has crossed the unknown sea and brought thy call to my home.
The night is dark and my heart is fearful—yet I will take up the lamp, open my gates and bow to him my welcome. It is thy messenger who stands at my door.
I will worship him placing at his feet the treasure of my heart.
He will go back with his errand done, leaving a dark shadow on my morning; and in my desolate home only my forlorn self will remain as my last offering to thee.
Cite this poem
MLA
Tagore, Rabindranath. “Gitanjali 86: Death, thy servant.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/85/.
Chicago
Tagore, Rabindranath. “Gitanjali 86: Death, thy servant.” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/tagore/85/.
Read this poem with the Codex →