O Star Of France
July 6, 2023O Hymen! O Hymenee!
July 6, 2023O Me! O Life!
O ME! O life!… of the questions of these recurring;
Of the endless trains of the faithless–of cities fill’d with the
foolish;
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I,
and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light–of the objects mean–of the
struggle ever renew’d;
Of the poor results of all–of the plodding and sordid crowds I see
around me;
Of the empty and useless years of the rest–with the rest me
intertwined;
The question, O me! so sad, recurring–What good amid these, O me, O
life?
Answer.
That you are here–that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.
Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was an American poet, essayist, and journalist, often referred to as the "father of free verse". His best-known work, "Leaves of Grass," is a celebration of American democracy, individualism, and the common people. Whitman's poetry also explored themes of sexuality and the body. He is considered one of the most influential poets in American literature.