# Face to Face with the Divine explained — Gitanjali

> Chapter companion for Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore.

## What happens

The poet expresses a deep yearning to stand face to face with the divine in all aspects of life—in solitude, amidst labor, and finally at the end of his worldly work.

## Themes in this chapter

### Divine Love and Devotion

The poet's repeated desire to stand before the divine reflects profound devotion.

### Death and Immortality

The final stanza alludes to the end of worldly work and standing before the divine beyond life.

## Character check-ins

### The Poet

The speaker who longs to stand before the divine.

### The Divine

Addressed as 'lord of my life' and 'King of kings'.

## Key lines

> Day after day, O lord of my life, shall I stand before thee face to face.

Each day, I will come before you, my lord, directly and without barrier.

_Expresses daily devotion and intimate encounter with the divine._

> And when my work shall be done in this world, O King of kings, alone and speechless shall I stand before thee face to face.

At the end of my life's work, I will stand silently and alone before you, the supreme ruler.

_Anticipates a final, silent meeting with the divine after death._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gitanjali_se/chapters/lxxvi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gitanjali_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gitanjali_se/chapters