Walt Whitman

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.